It's a near-sighted example of Arsenal chasing West Ham star Declan Rice, with the Hammers hierarchy continuing to be tough on certain aspects of the deal.
Despite the hint from The Sun that everything is still close to certainty, the truth is that the gunman is still trying to negotiate on every detail.
West Ham were fairly clear from the outset on the price and terms whether they would allow the captain to leave, and that position did not appear to have changed.
While it is widely believed that record-breaking deals will never go particularly well for English players, the overall details should be easier to nail down.
At the moment, Arsenal's proposed transfer amount structure is unacceptable to David Sullivan and his board, and Rice cannot be announced as a new player until a settlement is reached in this regard.
Of course, frustration goes both ways.
After receiving a £100m transfer fee, the East Londoners are likely to spend a lot of money, possibly signing Harvey Barnes, James Ward Prows and others who will provide David Moyes' side with great depth and strength in a challenging 2023/24 season in both the Europa League and domestic competitions.
None of these deals can be completed at this stage, so it is in everyone's best interest to sign them as soon as possible.
Article source: 68 Sports