Mikel Arteta reportedly wants to ignite transfer talks with Declan Rice as soon as the season is finished and is confident of convincing the West Ham United captain to join Arsenal.
The 24-year-old has long been linked with a move to one of the Big Six clubs, but West Ham have managed to price suitors out of a move for their skipper thus far.
However, Rice has now entered the final 18 months of his contract with the Hammers, who have unsuccessfully tried to tie him down to a new deal on more than one occasion.
With David Moyes's side at risk of losing Rice for nothing in 2024, they have supposedly resigned themselves to a summer exit for the midfielder, who publicly announced his desire to play in the Champions League last year.
Arsenal - who have already qualified for next year's Champions League - have seemingly emerged as the frontrunners to sign Rice, but they could still face competition from Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United.
In order to position themselves at the head of the queue, The Mirror reports that Arteta has urged the Gunners board to make a formal approach as soon as the season finishes.
Having enjoyed success as a midfielder in his heyday, Arteta is supposedly confident that he can charm Rice and convince him to choose the Emirates Stadium for his next stomping ground.
The former Chelsea product is understood to be interested in a move to Arsenal and is hopeful of remaining in London, boosting the Gunners' chances of landing his signature.
West Ham could still try to hold out for a £100m fee, but they may ultimately have to soften their stance given Rice's contract situation, with a bid between £60m and £80m potentially doing the trick.
Rice was a product of Chelsea's youth academy for seven years between 2006 and 2013 before leaving to join West Ham, where he has registered 14 goals and 13 assists in 238 appearances.
The 24-year-old has four goals and four assists to his name from 43 outings in the current campaign, captaining the Hammers to the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League.
However, Moyes's side have suffered a downturn in domestic fortunes to lie 15th in the Premier League table, just four points clear of the relegation zone, albeit with a game in hand on most of the teams around them.
Arsenal bolstered their engine room with the capture of Jorginho from Chelsea in January, but the Italian only arrived after the Gunners failed with two bids for Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo.
Arteta's side could try again for the Ecuadorian this summer, but Caicedo is now thought to be unlikely to end up at Arsenal, who did not heed Brighton's warnings to back off in January and may not have much luck in future talks with the Seagulls.
Rice could arrive at Arsenal as a replacement for Granit Xhaka, whom the Gunners are said to be open to offers for, while highly-rated 19-year-old Charlie Patino is reportedly set to leave the club permanently this summer as well. body check tags ::
