(Football news) Arsenal may have stopped off massively towards the back end of the title race but the season has been a massive improvement for them. The realistic target for this season would have been a top 4 finish but they have gone beyond to mount a title challenge. Keeping up with this climb is going to be difficult for Arsenal and to do that they need new signings. Granit Xhaka is one step away from joining Bayer Leverkusen next season so midfield is the obvious position where Arsenal need reinforcements. According to reports the Gunners are planning to open talks with West Ham for Declan Rice.
Declan Rice has been one of the best midfielders in England for the past couple of years. He has become the captain of West Ham and a regular starter for England at the age of just 24. He has potential to become an even better player in the future. He would fit Arsenal’s plans perfectly as it is a team with some incredible young players at the core. Rice lined-up alongside Thomas Partey with Martin Odegaard as a 10 looks like a world class midfielder on paper. This is still early days and there will be a lot of competition once the transfer window actually opens and progresses.
It is definitely time for Rice to make a move to a bigger club. His current contract runs 2024 with an option for another year. West Ham are yet to put a price tag on him but it certainly won’t be cheap. Financially Arsenal should be able to complete the transfer because of their Champions League qualification and the money that comes with it. Rice will not be the only midfield signing as there are other players like Moises Caicedo on Arsenal’s list. West Ham will not let Rice go for cheap so it will be a long and difficult negotiation for Arsenal.
