According to reports, Mikel Arteta has authorized Arsenal to make a surprise offer for Declan Rice this summer.
The West Ham captain, who is considered as one of the top midfielders in the Premier League, has been a talisman for the Hammers ever since making his debut in 2017.
Rice has also excelled for England and was crucial to their run to the Euro 2020 final, and he made an impression at the most recent World Cup in Qatar.
And according to the Spanish publication Fichajes, Arteta, the manager of Arsenal, is apparently interested in signing the midfielder before the 2023–24 season.
Rice is reportedly worth £88 million, but Hammers manager David Moyes has previously stated that it would need money from the Bank of England and then, last year, more money from the Bank of Scotland to convince West Ham to trade Rice.
His contract expires at the end of the following campaign, and he has previously expressed a desire to test himself in the Champions League, so a transfer could happen soon. Sportsmail previously reported that West Ham had internally acknowledged Rice’s likelihood of leaving the club in the summer.
Manchester United and Manchester City are also said to be interested in the defensive midfielder. Rice spent time in the Chelsea academy before being released at the age of 14, and the Blues have previously tried to woo him back to Stamford Bridge.
In a position where the Gunners lack some depth, Rice would be considered one of their best signings.
