MIKEL ARTETA reportedly plans to lead Arsenal’s quest to sign Declan Rice himself and believes he can convince the West Ham star to sign for him.
Arsenal are stepping up plans to revamp the squad after guaranteeing a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Arteta has made Rice, 24, his top pick to bolster his midfield due to his technical ability and strength.
The Hammers ace will be out of contract next summer, although there is the option of another year, and has rejected attempts at an extension.
He is keen to stay in London, with Chelsea also chasing him, and is believed to be interested in a switch across the capital to the Emirates.
Now the Daily Mirror are stating that “Arteta wants to hold talks with Rice as soon as the season ends” this month.
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They add that he believes “he can help convince £100million-rated Rice to join” the Gunners.
And that he will also “urge Arsenal to make an official approach once the season has ended to try to tee up a huge transfer when the window opens” for summer business.
The ace recently admitted on England duty that he is craving the opportunity to play Champions League football – something Chelsea are unable to offer like Arsenal.
Rice said: “One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League. For the last two or three years, I’ve been saying that.
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“I’ve been playing consistently well for my club, and I feel like I really want to keep pushing. I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies.
“You only get one career, and at the end, you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”
West Ham are looking at Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow as a potential replacement.
Meanwhile, Arteta is also reportedly reconsidering Arsenal’s summer transfer strategy following last week’s painful defeat at Manchester City that severely dented their title hopes.
The club had been planning to make just two major signings and had allocated up to £150m to bid for central midfielders Rice and Moises Caicedo.
But Arteta feels other areas of his squad also need strengthening.
And now they are exploring ways to finance moves for two more defenders and possibly another winger.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
