Arsenal are reportedly keen on signing Declan Rice, a target for Manchester United and Liverpool, at the end of the season.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for West Ham United captain Declan Rice for a while now. And a report from Football Transfers claims that the Gunners have now agreed on personal terms with the 24-year-old defensive midfielder.
Declan Rice has reportedly made Arsenal his preferred choice of club despite links with Manchester United, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich in recent weeks. The 24-year-old wants to join a club in the Champions League. And a move to Arsenal would be ideal for him.
The Gunners have managed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season and they pushed Manchester City for the league title this season. Arsenal will be hoping to go all the way next year, and they need to improve their squad to bridge the gap with the Premier League champions.
Rice could improve them immensely. The 24-year-old will add defensive cover, drive and physicality to the Arsenal midfield. The Gunners have not been able to rotate their squad due to the lack of options this season. So they need to bring in more bodies so that they can compete across all fronts.
Thomas Partey has been the only defensive midfielder at the club this season, and Rice will give Mikel Arteta more options to work with. The England international has proven himself to be a reliable defensive midfielder in the Premier League, and he has excelled at the international level with England as well.
The 24-year-old is only getting started and is likely to improve with coaching and experience. He could develop into a top-class player in the near future. So Arsenal could have a future star on their hands. Given the fact that the midfielder has a contract with West Ham until the summer of 2024, he could be available for a reasonable price in the coming weeks.
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It remains to be seen whether Arsenal can agree on a fee with their London rivals now. Liverpool and Manchester United need to add more depth to their midfield as well, and the 24-year-old would be a quality acquisition for them. All three clubs would represent an exciting opportunity for Rice next season.
