Arsenal have reportedly been handed a boost in their pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
The Gunners are understood to have identified the 24-year-old as their primary target for the summer transfer window, and they are allegedly confident of winning the race for his signature.
Rice has made 223 appearances for West Ham across all competitions, scoring 11 goals and providing 12 assists, and has established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
However, the England international is facing an uncertain future at the London Stadium as he is said to have rejected multiple offers to extend his contract which is due to expire in the summer of 2024.
Rice has been linked with a host of top Premier League clubs for some time, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, but Arsenal have now emerged as one of the frontrunners ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
West Ham are keen to keep hold of their star player and captain, and recent reports have indicated that the Hammers would only entertain bids in excess of £100m.
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Manager David Moyes has dismissed earlier reports that Rice could be sold for a figure in the region of £80m, and suggested at the beginning of this month that the midfielder will exceed the British transfer record should he leave the London Stadium.
The British transfer record was broken by Chelsea in January when they won the race to sign midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Benfica on deadline day for around £106.8m.
Speaking about Rice after West Ham's 1-1 draw at Newcastle United just under two weeks ago, Moyes said: "Undoubtedly Declan is going to be a top player and undoubtedly he'll be a British transfer record and more whenever he leaves West Ham.
"I hope [an exit for Rice is not inevitable], I hope he sees his time here, but look, there's a lot of talk about it and when you see what's going about for the prices.
"I think Declan will be blowing that [British transfer record] out of the water, that's for sure, when it comes around."
However, according to The Express, via Sky Sports News, Arsenal have been told that they could sign Rice for a fee below the valuation that Moyes has suggested.
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The Gunners are expected to have money in the bank this summer after failing with two big-money January offers to sign Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo, with their second offer totalling to around £70m.
Arteta's side are said to still hold an interest in Caicedo, but they are expected to prioritise their pursuit of Rice and move ahead of their Premier League rivals in the race for his signature.
At the end of last year, Rice hinted at a possible Hammers exit after expressing his desire to play in the Champions League, a competition that Arsenal are all but certain to qualify for next season as the league leaders sit 12 points clear of rivals Tottenham Hotspur in fifth who have played two games more.
"One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League," Rice told reporters. "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 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. I really want to do that."
Current Champions League holders Real Madrid, meanwhile, have allegedly pulled out of the race to sign Rice this summer.
Oliver Thomas
