The summer transfer window hasn't even been open for a week and Arsenal have already been extremely busy.
The Gunners submitted a first bid for priority target West Ham United captain Declan Rice last week. football.london understands that the offer was for £80million over six years with a further £10million in add ons, with the Hammers dismissing the bid out of hand.
Mikel Arteta's side are expected to return with a second bid for the 24-year-old, who will be into the final 12 months of his contract at the London Stadium at the end of June, albeit West Ham do have the option to extend this by a further year if they wish. Elsewhere, Arsenal have also shown a genuine interest in Chelsea star Kai Havertz.
The main stumbling block for the transfer, however, is the Blues valuation of the versatile playmaker, which stands in the region of £70million - a fee Gunners sporting director Edu Gaspar is keen to lower. Now, German transfer guru Florian Plettenberg has weighed in on the situation, claiming that the north London outfit are 'very confident' that both Rice and Havertz will be donning Arsenal's colours next season.
Taking to Twitter, Plettenburg wrote: "News #Havertz: Been told Arsenal is very confident to sign both: Rice & Havertz! Despite of the fact that Chelsea has rejected the first offer. Arteta is pushing for Havertz!
READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Gundogan blow, Partey decision, Balogun stance, Rice confidence
"@Arsenal are in advanced stages with both players No Bayern offer for #Havertz yet. Arsenal is planning the next steps. Bayern‘s next transfer meeting scheduled next week. @SkySportDE."
He then followed this up with another Havertz update, which read: "Arsenal has analyzed #Havertz in detail. Edu & Arteta are convinced that he’s the perfect player for the offense. #Gunners
"@Arsenal want him as a versatile striker in addition to Jesus as reported Havertz, convinced about the project! Final negotiations with #CFC now Personal terms agreed in principle. @SkySportDE."
If the Gunners do end up paying Chelsea's £70million asking price for the German international, along with West Ham's reported £100million valuation of Rice they would be paying out an eye-watering £170million on just two players - the biggest transfer outlay on a duo in the club's history.
READ NEXT:
Roberto Firmino and Paulo Dybala prove Arsenal are taking £60m Kai Havertz transfer gamble
Arsenal offer Kai Havertz career revival to leave Chelsea licking their transfer wounds again
