Former England international Teddy Sheringham says he hopes West Ham captain Declan Rice doesn’t join Arsenal this summer.

The Gunners are believed to be the frontrunners to snap up the midfielder ahead of Chelsea and Manchester United. However, Sheringham, who used to play for Tottenham, has called on Rice to move to a different team:

“He would definitely make Arsenal a better team. Don’t like to say it, but they are already good enough this season. I don’t want to see Declan go there because he would make them a better team.”

Rice was in excellent form for England as the Three Lions won their opening European Championship qualifier against Italy on Thursday evening.

It has prompted more speculation about his future and which club he could end up joining at the end of the season. If Arsenal are his favoured destination, Mikel Arteta’s side will need to break their transfer record to get him.

Respected journalist David Ornstein has previously reported that West Ham will hold out for around £75m to £85m, which would eclipse the £72m that the Gunners paid for Nicolas Pepe back in the summer of 2019.