Arsenal have already begun their preparations for the 2023/24 campaign by making Declan Rice their top target for the summer transfer window. Mikel Arteta's side are on course to win their first Premier League title since 2004 and will be hoping to continue the upwards trajectory next campaign.
The Times have reported today (Monday) that the West Ham skipper is Edu's No 1 target ahead of the summer, with the club said to be keen on beating Chelsea to his signature. The revelation comes shortly after their London rivals hijacked the Gunners' deal for Mykhailo Mudryk with a £88million deal.
Rice has strongly been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge over recent years after becoming one of the Premier League's best holding midfielders at the London Stadium. The 24-year-old was part of the Cobham academy ranks alongside Mason Mount before leaving in 2014.
READ MORE: What Declan Rice has said about Arsenal and Mikel Arteta amid transfer links
A signing at the magnitude of Rice would be a huge statement in Arsenal's intentions. The club have enjoyed a successful campaign under Arteta this term, with the club amongst the top bracket of the Premier League for the first time in a number of years.
The overhaul and progress made at the Emirates Stadium under the Spaniard has heavily relied on the recruitment conducted by technical director Edu Gaspar. The previous two summer windows have seen major changes for Arsenal's squad made with the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus all signed during pre-season.
Rice is currently valued at £70million by CIES Football Observatory - although in reality it could be more than that - and enters the final two years of his current deal at the London Stadium in June.
Should Arsenal go head-to-head with Chelsea for Rice in the summer, they hold an essential advantage. During the World Cup, Rice claimed he wanted to play in the Champions League, an essential that Arsenal may be able to offer.
"Yeah - one hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League," the 23-year-old 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."
At the current time of writing, Chelsea sit 10 points off the Champions League places with 20 games remaining. Graham Potter's men have proven their financial pull this month despite struggles on the field by securing Mudryk. However, the Rice transfer saga may provide a different challenge.
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