It’s been reported that Arsenal are set to open talks to sign their number one summer target very soon as the transfer window approaches ahead of next season.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are set to open talks with West Ham very soon over a £90million move for club captain, Declan Rice.
With Champions League football confirmed to be back at the Emirates Stadium in 2023/24, Edu and his team are getting ready to make moves to sign the clubs top targets ahead of next season and the man at the top of the list is West Ham’s Declan Rice.
Declan Rice refused to leave the Hammers in January as he wanted to make sure the club stayed in the Premier League. However his situation come the end of the season is expected to be different. The 24-year-old has said previously he wants to play in the Champions League & competing for the biggest trophies and Arsenal are confident of securing the players’ signature ahead of next season.
In addition to having a big budget to spend on new players this summer, The Daily Mail have reported the club will loosen constraints on their wage bill to ensure the team can attract sufficient talent to maintain their current status as genuine Premier League title contenders.
Arsenal are also set to let a number of first-team players leave this summer with Granit Xhaka a player who could leave the club ahead of next season. Bayern Leverkusen are currently favourites to sign the midfielder.
Granit Xhaka could leave Arsenal this summer. [Image Credit: Getty Images]
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Arsenal are willing to break their transfer record to complete the signing of Declan Rice, which currently stands at £72million for the signing of Nicolas Pepe in 2019.
West Ham value their club captain at £100million but it’s currently unknown whether Arsenal will be willing to match that valuation. However the Gunners will be willing to offer the midfielder a £300k-a-week contract which would see him become the highest paid player at the club, alongside Bukayo Saka, after his new contract is announced.
Rice fits the profile of player Mikel Arteta wants to add to his squad. The Arsenal boss wants to add to the English core, while adding quality in depth and experience to his side in order to progress even further next season.
In addition to Declan Rice, Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount are among the players on the Gunners’ radar. It’s worth noting Declan Rice and Mason Mount are best mates outside of football and could potentially become teammates in North London this summer, according to reports.
Marc Guehi is a target for Arsenal this summer. [Image Credit: Getty Images]
A planned sale of a number of fringe players, plus increased revenue from their qualification for the Champions League, will help aid their plans for a summer rebuild.
Reiss Nelson, Folarin Balogun, Kieran Tierney and Granit Xhaka could all potentially leave the Gunners ahead of next season.
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