Arsenal are set to submit an official offer to sign West Ham captain Declan Rice this week.
Rice is the club’s leading transfer target ahead of the summer window and the Gunners are set to step up their efforts to sign the England midfielder following the conclusion of West Ham’s campaign.
Rice captained West Ham to success in the Europa Conference League last week as the Irons beat Fiorentina 2-1 in Prague to secure a first major trophy since 1980.
West Ham chairman David Sullivan confirmed after the club’s final success that Rice will leave West Ham this summer, having been ‘promised’ an exit in search of Champions League football.
Arsenal have been viewed as the frontrunners to sign the 24-year-old and Fabrizio Romano is reporting that the north Londoners will submit an ‘official bid’ in the coming days as the club enter a ‘crucial stage’ in their pursuit of Rice.
Bayern Munich remain interested in a deal to sign the midfielder, while Manchester United have also been credited with interest.
However, Arsenal feel they are ‘ahead’ of Bayern in the race for Rice, given the player’s preference to remain in the Premier League.
