'He was buzzing' - Declan Rice 'can't wait to get to Arsenal' and was left dazzled by Mikel Arteta, says pundit Danny Murphy after meeting West Ham star

Declan Rice West HamGetty
  • Rice close to Arsenal switch
  • Murphy says he ran into midfielder
  • West Ham star 'buzzing' to join Gunners

WHAT HAPPENED? Former Liverpool and Tottenham midfielder Murphy says he met Rice outside a cafe and spoke to him about his seemingly imminent transfer to Arsenal, revealing that the West Ham star is eager to get started with the Gunners.

WHAT THEY SAID: Murphy said on FIVE: “I’ve got to say, it’s worth saying I saw Dec on Sunday at the cafe by mine. He was outside, I popped out to see him, I was just ordering a full English, actually. And we were chatting, and he was buzzing. He couldn’t wait to get to Arsenal. He said Arteta was magic when he met him.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Rice is close to completing a move to north London worth an initial £100 million ($127m) with £5m ($6m) in add-ons. The transfer will make Rice the most expensive English player of all time when it is completed.

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IN THREE PHOTOS:

Declan Rice West HamGetty ImagesDanny Murphy 2015GettyMikel Arteta Arsenal 2022-23Getty Images

WHAT NEXT FOR RICE? Arteta will hope to have Rice in his squad and available for their first pre-season friendly against Nurnberg on July 13.