Arsenal finally look set to announce the signing of Declan Rice from West Ham United in the coming days, following delays after a deal was initially agreed.
The Gunners are set to pay a British record fee which could reach £105m for the England international, and Rice reportedly completed his medical last week.
However, there was some agitation amongst fans over the fact that the deal has not been announced yet, and West Ham were reportedly frustrated at the amount of time Arsenal have taken to finalise their paperwork.
ExWHUEmployee has now shed some light on the situation, claiming that Rice is expected to be announced in the next two days, with the midfielder expected to join Arsenal’s pre-season tour in the United States of America.
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When could Rice make his Arsenal debut?
Arsenal are set to face the MLS All-Stars, Manchester United and Barcelona in their pre-season tour around the USA, and it seems likely that Rice will appear in at least one of these matches.
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When Mikel Arteta’s side return to London, they have an Emirates Cup tie against AS Monaco on August 2nd, where Rice could appear in front of the home crowd as an Arsenal player for the first time.
Arsenal are also set to take part in the Community Shield at Wembley, to face treble-winners Manchester City, and Rice looks almost certain to start this game, with Arteta keen on ending pre-season with his strongest side gelling together in preparation for the upcoming campaign.
The Gunners are currently in Germany, where they are set to face FC Nuremburg, but neither Rice nor fellow expected arrival Jurrien Timber are set to take part.
New signing Kai Havertz could make his first appearance in Germany since joining from Chelsea, but fans will have to be patient before they get to see Rice in the famous red and white kit.