Manchester City are set to hijack Arsenal's bid for Declan Rice with a sensational £100million swoop for the West Ham star.
Arsenal have had two bids of £80m and £90m for Rice rejected, which has opened the door for City to gazump them with a British record-equalling bid for the midfielder. City beat the Gunners to the Premier League title last season and the Treble winners could leave them reeling again with their audacious bid for England star Rice.
Arsenal were convinced they had a free run at Rice, despite having initial bids turned down, but City's decision to move for him could see them lose out on their top transfer target.
City already hold the British transfer record, following their £100m outlay on Jack Grealish from Aston Villa two years ago – and are ready to equal it again in their pursuit of Rice.
Manchester United have also been looking at Rice, but the protracted takeover saga and the need to spend big on an elite striker makes it unlikely they will enter the race.
City boss Pep Guardiola sees Rice as the ideal fit to replace Ilkay Gundogan, who is leaving City after seven years to join Barcelona as a free agent on a three-year deal.
Although City have agreed with Chelsea a fee of £25m plus £5m in add-ons for midfielder Mateo Kovacic, they feel they cannot afford to miss out on Rice if there is a chance to land him.
Rice is regarded as one of the most accomplished young central midfielders in the world and would underline City's squad as arguably the most complete in world football.
Personal terms with Rice would not pose a problem for City, with an offer of around £200,000-a-week, with the decision now resting with West Ham over whether to accept the latest bid.
As well as Gundogan, City could also lose another midfielder in Bernardo Silva, who has attracted interest from Paris St Germain and the lucrative Saudi Arabia league.
