Having spent his entire senior career at West Ham, Rice has made 241 appearances in all competitions since his debut in 2017. While he aims to lead the Hammers to success in the Europa Conference League this season, the English international also aspires to play in the Champions League. Arsenal has been considered one of the frontrunners in the pursuit of Rice, especially after their qualification for Europe's elite club competition for the first time in six years.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reportedly intends to initiate talks for a summer transfer worth £90 million. To generate funds, Arsenal is reportedly open to selling up to 11 players, including midfielder Granit Xhaka, who is said to be in advanced discussions for a move to Bayer Leverkusen.
Manchester United has also shown interest in Rice, with reports suggesting that their new manager, Erik ten Hag, has identified him as the top target for the summer transfer window.
However, according to German news outlet Bild, Bayern Munich has now joined the list of clubs interested in West Ham's No.41. Head coach Thomas Tuchel views Rice as an ideal addition to anchor the midfield, enabling Joshua Kimmich to push further forward. Tuchel, who took charge at Bayern in March, hopes to outmaneuver Arsenal in the pursuit of Rice. West Ham values Rice at around £100 million. While Rice has slightly over a year left on his current contract, West Ham is believed to possess an option to extend it until June 2025.
Bayern's summer plans remain uncertain as they are also seeking a new center-forward to fill the void left by Robert Lewandowski, who now plays for Barcelona. Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane and Napoli's Victor Osimhen have been strongly linked to a move to the Allianz Arena, but both players are reportedly valued at around £100 million by their respective clubs.
