Arsenal are all set to make an approach for 24-year-old West Ham United star midfielder Declan Rice in the coming weeks.
According to Fabrizio Romano via Caught Offside, Arsenal are keen on acquiring the services of Declan Rice ahead of next season. The 24-year-old has been on their radar for a while now, and they want to secure his signing in the coming weeks.
Rice is one of the most sought-after players at this point in time. A lot of Premier League clubs want to add him to their ranks. While his contract with the Hammers runs until the summer of 2024, the England international is likely to part ways with the club in the upcoming transfer window.
The West Ham United skipper has been the mainstay of their team for a few years now. He has been involved in over 240 matches for the Hammers and also has a total of 27 goal contributions to his name.
As far as the ongoing season is concerned, the 24-year-old has eight goal contributions in 46 outings. Meanwhile, Arsenal have been monitoring Rice for a while now and according to Romano, they will start talks over a potential transfer in the coming weeks.
Rice is a priority for Arsenal, who are keen on bolstering their midfield ahead of next season. Mikel Arteta has done wonders in the ongoing season. But, he feels they need more quality in the centre of the park.
They want to sign someone who can help them control the majority of the ball and dictate the pace of the game. And, the Spanish manager believes the 24-year-old West Ham midfielder can help their cause.
The Gunners are all set to part ways with Granit Xhaka. The Swiss international is likely to join Bayer Leverkusen in a transfer worth around €15 million. His departure will leave a void that can be filled by signing Rice. And, it won’t be wrong to say that the West Ham midfielder will be an upgrade.
The 24-year-old is amongst the best in the world and he can run their midfield for years to come. While Arsenal are pushing, the Hammers don’t want to start negotiations just yet as they are still fighting for a spot in the Europa Conference League final and want to focus on the tournament entirely.
