Arsenal plan to sign former Man City star ahead of Chelsea after Declan Rice

Arsenal are confident of winning the race to sign Declan Rice and are already making plans to bring his midfield partner to the Emirates Stadium later in the transfer window.

Rice has almost certainly played his final game for West Ham but his next club remains uncertain amid interest from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.

Bayern Munich were also believed to be in the running to sign Rice but the German giants have recently withdraw their interest, leaving the Premier League quartet to battle it out for his signature.

West Ham chairman David Sullivan confirmed in the aftermath of the club’s Europa Conference League win that Rice would likely be sold this summer – with the Hammers holding out for an offer in the region of £100m.

Arsenal have already bid £80m for Rice but West Ham are confident of receiving even more money for a player who emerged as a hero in east London and a key member of Gareth Southgate’s England squad.

Undeterred by West Ham’s stance, the Gunners are preparing an improved offer for Rice as Mikel Arteta looks to bring in a new midfielder ahead of Arsenal’s return to the Champions League.

But Arteta is keen to welcome at least two midfielders to the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal want Rice to form a formidable partnership with Romeo Lavia, according to The Independent.

It is claimed the Gunners are also confident of signing Lavia, who impressed for Southampton last season despite the Saints’ relegation to the Championship.

Belgium international Lavia started his Premier League career at Manchester City but only made two appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side before joining Southampton in 2022.

Arsenal will not want to get into yet another bidding war but Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are also thought to be interested in 19-year-old Lavia.

Following an impressive season in which they finished second behind Man City, Arsenal are throwing their weight around in the transfer market and have also bid for Chelsea forward Kai Havertz.

But the north London outfit are reportedly out of the race to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton, leaving Manchester United and Chelsea to fight over his signature.

Former Manchester United striker Andy Cole named Caicedo and Rice as two potential signings who would ensure Arsenal mount another title challenge next season.

‘If Arsenal brought in one of them then that would definitely improve them enough to challenge next season,’ Old Trafford hero Cole told Punters.Pub.

‘I’m not sure what the price tag is on both of them. But I think Moises Caicedo is a fantastic player, I really do.

‘He bosses games for Brighton, who played some real good stuff this season. If he’s £80m, I’m not quite sure why Declan Rice should be £100m.

‘In the end it comes down to who Mikel Arteta thinks is going to make Arsenal better, whether or not he thinks that they could bring Arsenal closer to winning the Premier League. We’ll have to wait and see.’

MORE : Nigel Reo-Coker predicts West Ham midfielder Declan Rice’s next club

MORE : Kai Havertz ‘not the right signing’ for Arsenal, says club legend Ray Parlour

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