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Arsenal’s pursuit of Declan Rice is just the first step in a planned midfield overhaul at the Emirates Stadium this summer, with Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey both potentially leaving the club in the coming weeks.
Arsenal remain in talks with West Ham United for Rice, their top target, and Xhaka is expected to join Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of around £13 million.
Partey may also leave the club this summer, with Arsenal understood to be willing to cash in on the Ghana international if suitable replacements can be found.
Xhaka and Partey were two of Arsenal’s most important players as they produced a surprise title challenge in the 2022/23 campaign but, with both players now 30, Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu are looking to refresh the midfield in the long-term.
Arsenal’s plan is for the midfield to be rebuilt around captain Martin Odegaard and Rice, provided they can reach an agreement with West Ham, and they are also considering other midfield options in the transfer market this summer.
Brighton’s Moises Caicedo is a long-term target but, at this stage of the window, is regarded as more likely to make a move to Chelsea. Arsenal have also shown interest in Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan.
