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Featured Image Credit: Arsenal/Getty
Topics: Football, Arsenal, Premier League, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, West Ham United
Chris Byfield
Topics: Football, Arsenal, Premier League, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber, West Ham United
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber transfer announcement contained a ‘clue’ that suggests Declan Rice's arrival could be imminent.
On Friday, the Gunners announced the signing of Netherlands international Timber from Ajax on a five-year deal for a fee in the region of £38million.
Arsenal will reportedly pay an initial fee of just over £34million for the 22-year-old, with the remainder payable in performance-related add-ons.
Upon signing, the Dutchman claimed he has "always been a fan of Arsenal", which stemmed from his brothers' love for the Premier League side.
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"They were always Arsenal fans, and I just loved seeing Arsenal play. They had big players, the way they played, the style. I just love the club," Timber told the club website.
"I had this from a young age, but my brothers kind of put that in me. I liked watching Robin van Persie of course, and Thierry Henry. They were my favourite players."
Timber, who has been a long-term target for Arsenal, is the second signing of the summer following the £65million arrival of Kai Havertz, while a £105million deal to sign West Ham’s Rice is also thought to be imminent.
And it has been speculated that there may be a clue Rice will be announced soon in Timber’s announcement video.
Rice clue?
Some of the Arsenal fanbase have interpreted a section of Timber’s first Arsenal interview as a clue Rice will be announced soon.
In the clip, Timber is shown a piece of paper and told: “He’ll be here in pre-season. You’ll see him.”
While it is unclear who is being discussed, some have interpreted the conversation as a suggestion Rice will join up with the Arsenal squad ahead of the club’s pre-season tour, which begins on Sunday.
Rice has passed a medical and already agreed personal terms with the Gunners. Yet Arsenal fans may have to wait a little while longer for an announcement.
On Friday Sky Sports reporter Solhekol revealed that West Ham have not yet received the necessary documentation from Arsenal to complete the transfer.
"As of 4pm, our information was that West Ham had still not received the paperwork from Arsenal's lawyers for them to sign and complete the deal," Solhekol said.
"We asked the question 'Is that a concern? What is going on?' We were told that 'yes, it is a bit strange'. These things take a bit of time but they don't usually take this long.
"The deal was agreed 10 days ago and it still hasn't been completed. As of 4pm, they hadn't received the paperwork but they still thought the deal was going to be completed today [Friday].
"One insider said 'I've never seen anything like this saga before'. But our feeling is that the deal will still be completed."