Declan Rice is ready to ask West Ham to accept Arsenal’s latest £105million offer, according to the Daily Mail.

With Manchester City unwilling to match the Gunners’ huge bid, Rice’s desire for his current club to reach an agreement with Arsenal – and the fact he is prepared to inform the Hammers of his wishes – arrives a significant development.

It means Arsenal are now in a very strong position to conclude the signing of their No 1 transfer target.

The report added that there is growing confidence at Arsenal that an agreement can be reached by the end of the day.

West Ham did not immediately accept Arsenal’s mega £105million formal offer that was made on Tuesday night.

The bid comprised of £100million in guaranteed cash plus an extra £5million in bonuses.

Well-placed sources have indicated that negotiations are continuing, mainly over the structure of the deal.

As Mail Sport revealed earlier this month, the Hammers want the guaranteed portion of the fee paid by the start of 2025, preferably in two instalments.

It is understood that Arsenal want to pay the fee over a five-year period.

And talks over reaching a middle ground with regards to the structure of the deal are continuing on Wednesday morning with Arsenal desperate to reach an agreement.

Their offer exceeds West Ham’s £100m valuation for the England star.

News of Arsenal’s mega bid comes after Manchester City’s first offer for the Hammers captain, which comprised of £80million in guaranteed cash and a further £10million in add-ons, was formally turned down by the Hammers on Tuesday.

The two clubs are now locked in talks as they look to strike a deal, which would see Rice become the most expensive British player of all time, surpassing the £100m Man City paid for Jack Grealish.

Tags: Arsenal, Declan Rice, West Ham