Arsenal have been handed a huge boost in their hopes of eventually signing Declan Rice from West Ham this summer. The Gunners saw a second bid worth £90million - with £75million offered up front and the remaining £15million as add-ons - rejected on Tuesday but the confidence is still there in north London an agreement will be reached.
Alongside Arsenal's pursuit of Rice, there are several other Premier League clubs attempting to make major midfield moves. Chelsea are pushing to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and are also in the race with Mikel Arteta's side for Southampton man Romeo Lavia.
Liverpool have already signed Alexis Mac Allister from the Seagulls and are also interested in Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone. Although the Gunners are the frontrunners to land Rice's signature, Manchester City and Manchester United are still keeping tabs on his situation, but given their financial power, it is only Man City that the Gunners could really face stiff competition from, however their summer priorities being made clear have given Arsenal a huge boost.
Chelsea's Mateo Kovacic has been in talks to sign for Pep Guardiola's side since the end of May with a final agreement on a fee close. Personal terms were sorted very quickly with Kovacic wanting the move and the Blues open to letting him depart and now a £25million bid is being worked through by both parties.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, a move for Kovacic would only collapse if the European champions formally entered the race for Rice, but as that deal is on the verge of being wrapped up, it hints that nothing concrete has arrived from Man City regarding Rice as of yet.
With Kovacic's transfer to Etihad Stadium nearly complete, Guardiola's side can look at alternative targets, such as Rice, but he is not currently on the agenda. As per Romano, Josko Gvardiol has been listed as the next priority for City with personal terms close to being agreed, but the final sticking point being on a transfer fee.
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The €80million (£68.5m) reported price tag is said to be considerably lower than what RB Leipzig want to sanction an exit this summer. Chelsea have held a long-standing interest in the Croatia international but they look to be focused on other targets after signing several defenders in the last two windows, with Levi Colwill also to return for the 2023/24 season.
With negotiations likely needed between City and Leipzig over a transfer fee, there may be no time for them to also register a serious interest in Rice. That outcome playing out gives Arsenal a huge boost of signing Rice with the only thing likely preventing a move being the difference in what the Gunners and West Ham consider to be the England international's valuation.
