Arsenal make major Declan Rice transfer breakthrough as West Ham captain wants move

Declan Rice is ready to make it clear he favours a move to Arsenal this summer.

West Ham are expected to sell their England international if a Champions League club matches their £100m-plus valuation.

Arsenal have made Rice their No1 transfer target but know there could be competition if Manchester United or other Premier League rivals also come in for the 24-year-old midfielder.

But Arsenal have already put in a huge amount of work to make sure the deal happens this summer as part of a shake-up in the squad.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has a plan of how he sees Rice in the set-up as he looks to rebuild his midfield in this transfer window.

Rice has been very clear that he is focused on helping West Ham win the Europa Conference League but if he is allowed to go then his preference is expected to be a move to Arsenal.

It still leaves Arsenal needing to agree a deal with West Ham and that may not be easy as he is such a prize asset and highly rated.

But they believe they are in pole position to get their man this summer.

Rice attended the Women's Football Awards in London on Thursday (Getty Images)

Arteta is expected to lose Granit Xhaka this summer as Bayer Leverkusen want to sign the Switzerland midfielder.

Furthermore, there is interest from Italy in Thomas Partey which could yet see him move too.

Arsenal are also keen on Brighton ’s Moises Caicedo but Rice remains the priority and there is real optimism they will be able to get him.

Arteta stayed tight-lipped on the future of Xhaka at Friday's press conference, saying simply: "I cannot talk and I won’t talk about any future of any players or members of staff. We have to wrap up the season."

West Ham boss David Moyes has admitted that there is a "good chance" Rice will move on this summer as he looks to further his career, having previously stated his desire to play Champions League football.

Arteta is a long-term fan of Rice (AFP via Getty Images)

"We honestly hope he stays," said Moyes earlier this month.

"We'd love for him to be a West Ham player but we are aware that might not be the case at the end of the season.

"So that's one of the scenarios around planning. There are plans that we have Dec here but we're also fully aware there is a good chance we won't have him."