Declan Rice continues to be at the centre of summer transfer window talk with an exit from West Ham looking inevitable. As football.london have reported since February, Rice is Arsenal's priority target for the summer window with a second bid currently being prepared from north London after their opening offer of £80million was immediately rejected.
Midfield was a key position Arsenal had already set plans to fill prior to the exit of Granit Xhaka and possible departure of Thomas Partey. The Switzerland international had already agreed to the move at the end of May with details only being finalised once Arsenal have acquired a new midfielder.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Partey could also join Xhaka in leaving Emirates Stadium to embark on a new challenge. Southampton's Romeo Lavia has been discussed as his possible replacement but the Gunners will be competing with Chelsea for his signature.
Despite both occupying similar positions, the pursuit of Lavia does not affect Arsenal's move for Rice which looks likely to go into overdrive next week. Rice is currently away on international duty with England but that has not stopped the transfer talk with Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate jokingly revealing what is going on behind the scenes.
In a press conference ahead of England's clash with North Macedonia, he said: "The players are tapping each other up on the quiet anyway, I can't do anything about it." Several photos and gestures have already sparked numerous transfer frenzies with the latest on Rice coming with Manchester United star Luke Shaw.
Wembley Stadium is currently being used by Harry Styles which means Old Trafford will be the venue for Monday's game which prompted Shaw to drop a subtle transfer hint. Playing in Manchester means the England squad are also training in Manchester at Carrington, with Shaw posing for photos with Harry Kane and Rice before posting those pictures to his Instagram story with the caption, "Carrington Tour" (eyes emoji).
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Both Rice and Kane have been linked with a move to United this summer although both look unlikely to happen. Nonetheless, this didn't prevent Shaw from hinting at the possibility of the pair moving to Manchester along with some others in the England squad.
"There's a few," Shaw replied on Sunday when asked who he has been tapping up for United. "Of course, it is just a bit of banter really. I don't know too much about what's going on." Arsenal fans were also delving into wild transfer theories after spotting what Rice did with Bukayo Saka and Aaron Ramsdale last week when he arrived at St George's Park.
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