Declan Rice looks set to have plenty of options in the summer transfer window as the West Ham captain looks set to depart east London. Chelsea were seen as the obvious option, given the Blues' previous interest in bringing Rice and their need for a major midfield rebuild, however Arsenal have now firmly thrown their hat into the transfer battle.
Despite a transfer to Chelsea likely making the most sense, the Gunners have made Rice their top target for next summer and the club are said to be 'growing in confidence' that they can beat their London rivals to the midfielder's signature at the end of the season, according to The Times.
Moises Caicedo, Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez are all on Chelsea's radar, which could mean missing out on Rice is not a significant blow with the amount of quality alternatives identified.
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That interest arriving from Arsenal is understandably linked to their scintillating form this season, with the club now clearly believing they are in a position to sign the England midfielder. Even before declaring their interest in Rice though, Mikel Arteta's side held an advantage over Graham Potter after the 24-year-old revealed his aspirations to play in the Champions League in his career.
"Yeah - one hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League,". he said. "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 (with England at the World Cup), who are playing Champions League and competing for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end of it you want to look back at what you've won and the biggest games you've played in. I really want to do that."
With Chelsea in 10th position, 10 points behind Newcastle who sit fourth, achieving Champions League qualification will be difficult for the Blues, but there is half a season still to play. Based off recent form, Newcastle, Man City and Arsenal look set to finish in the top four and Rice has been told the other team currently residing in those positions should be his transfer destination in the summer.
"I don't think he'll end up at Arsenal," Simon Jordan told talkSPORT. "I've got a sneaking suspicion that if Manchester United continue to progress and can knock on the door of something significant this season [they can sign Rice].
"I'm surprised they are doing it as quickly as they are doing it, I think it's also to do with the fact we've got a slightly strange season on our hands where other clubs are underperforming who we didn't think would.
"Namely Liverpool, Man City have hit a slight funk which has surprised people. I wouldn't be surprised if United do something this season, win a cup, perform decently in Europe or finish high up in the Premier League, he [Rice] could occupy a quarterback role at Manchester United."
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