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Six Arsenal outcasts that may be used as makeweights for West Ham to sell Declan Rice
Arsenal can explore different ways of coming up with the money needed to sign Declan Rice from West Ham.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is confident in signing Declan Rice this summer. However, West Ham are not going to make it easy for their London rivals by asking for a fee north of £100million. Express Sport looks at six players Arsenal could use as a makeweight in the deal to reduce the fee they will have to pay the Hammers.
Charlie Patino
Patino is an exciting young midfielder who spent this season on loan at Blackpool. Reports claim he will be allowed to leave this summer in search of more regular first-team football.
He may not be ready for Premier League football week in, week out. However, West Ham may sense a potential star of the future in the 19-year-old.
Folarin Balogun
Balogun has shone for Reims in Ligue 1 this season. The young striker has netted 19 times while on loan in the French top flight.
He wants to be assured of minutes upon his Arsenal return but Arteta may not be able to offer that. West Ham may view the 21-year-old as a long-term replacement for Michail Antonio and Danny Ings.
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Emile Smith Rowe
Smith Rowe has not started a single match for Arsenal this season. He has been fit for much of 2023 but hasn't done enough to catch the eye of his manager.
There is still plenty of value in the England international, so he could bring down the fee for Rice considerably. A change of scene may be what Smith Rowe needs to get his career back on track.
Nicolas Pepe
Arsenal would have to smash their transfer record to sign Rice. The current holder of the record signing tag is £72m Pepe, who has been on loan at Nice this season.
The winger's hefty wages may prevent him from getting a permanent move back to France. His Arsenal stats actually aren't too shabby and he could find a new home at the London Stadium.
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Nuno Tavares
Tavares has been on loan at Marseille this season after an indifferent first campaign in English football. Arteta clearly felt he needed a year away to gain more experience at senior level.
He scored six goals in his first 26 appearances for Marseille to showcase his attacking credentials. His defending still needs work but, at 23, there is still plenty of scope to improve.
Albert Sambi Lokonga
Lokonga was once dubbed 'the new Yaya Toure' by his former manager Vincent Kompany. Burnley boss Kompany reportedly wants a reunion with the Belgian at Turf Moor.
He will be allowed to leave the Emirates after a mixed loan spell at Crystal Palace in the second half of the season. If he can show the form that led to the Toure comparisons, he could be a bargain signing for West Ham.
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