30 May 2023 , 11:33
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Arsenal will have to fend off competition from Bayern Munich if they are to land Declan Rice in the summer transfer window.
Rice, 24, has emerged as the Gunners' top transfer target in recent weeks and is expected to leave West Ham following their Europa Conference League final clash with Fiorentina in Prague.
Mikel Arteta is intent on bolstering his midfield options this summer in a bid to build on Arsenal's successful 2022/23 campaign and a move for Rice fits the bill. However, the England international, who is valued at more than £100million by the Hammers, also has other high-profile suitors.
Mirror Football understands that German giants Bayern Munich are also admirers of Rice and are prepared to put together a financial package worth £95m in order to beat Arsenal to a deal for the sought-after maestro.
That figure is slightly higher than the structured £90m deal that Arsenal are planning to lodge with the Hammers once their campaign officially concludes next week. However, both bids would fall short of West Ham's own valuation of Rice.
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Rice's preference would be a move to the Emirates, however, he has made no secret of his desire to play Champions League football; something Bayern would also be able to offer him.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are ready to hand Arteta a budget of around £180m to reshape his squad this summer, while the Spaniard will also be given the green light to supplement that sum with any funds raised from player sales.
Join the debate! Who do you think Rice will be playing for next season? Let us know here.
Arsenal and Bayern Munich are both intent on signing Declan Rice this summer (Getty Images)A host of players, including Granit Xhaka, Emile Smith Rowe, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney have already been linked with moves away from the Emirates and it is believed that Arsenal would be open to selling them.
Sporting director Edu has already outlined that the club are only interested in acquiring players who are capable of taking Arsenal to the next level after running Manchester City close in the title race. The Brazilian said: “We need to identify how we can improve, if we have to improve specific, individual positions, individuals, final turn, midfielders, our defence. We already know what it is because our style of play with Mikel Arteta is very clear.
"When you see Arsenal play now, you know it’s our style. Now we have to understand how to enhance our athletes so the team can improve and reach a new level in terms of performance. I think there is a level above.
“Mikel and I talked, and we believe we can raise our performance to a new level. Now we have to do good work in the transfer window, we have to understand what we need, get the right athletes, the right traits, and the right athlete mentality so we can raise our squad’s level again.”