Declan Rice's agent did not meet with Bayern Munich representatives as rumours surrounding the West Ham United captain's future continue, according to reports.
Writing on Twitter, German transfer guru Christian Falk said: "It is NOT TRUE (red X emoji) that the Agent of @_DeclanRice met the bosses of @FCBayern for negotiations last week @WestHam @Arsenal @ChelseaFC." This will come as a boost to both Arsenal and Chelsea, who are both interested in signing Rice this summer, football.london understands.
The Gunners are keen to strengthen their midfield options at the end of the current campaign and football.london understands that the 24-year-old is Mikel Arteta's priority in this department. The Blues are also huge admirers of Rice, although the Evening Standard have since reported that there is 'optimism' at the Emirates Stadium that the north Londoners will win the race to sign the midfielder.
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Unless they win this season's UEFA Champions League, Graham Potter's side appear unlikely to qualify for Europe's elite competition next season, something that could give Arsenal a huge advantage in the race to prise Rice away from West Ham considering the Gunners sit 22 points clear of fifth-placed Newcastle United in the current Premier League standings.
“One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League,” Rice said last year. “For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that.
“I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.
“You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”
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