Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has taken an active role in talks to bring West Ham United's Declan Rice to the Emirates, according to a report.
The Gunners are believed to have identified the 24-year-old as their top target for the summer transfer window, and he would supposedly be keen on a move to North London.
Rice's contract with West Ham only runs until the summer of 2024, but the Hammers are still expected to hold out for a fee of £100m to sanction a sale.
Chelsea will likely rival Arsenal for the signature of their former academy product, but the Gunners will have a major advantage in negotiations should they qualify for the Champions League.
According to journalist Rudy Galetti, Arsenal made contact with West Ham in January to gather preliminary information, and Arteta was "directly involved" in the discussions.
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"Declan Rice, for sure, remains a priority for Arsenal in the summer. There are some updates because the Gunners have the West Ham midfielder in their sights and first contact to collect preliminary information already happened," Galetti told GiveMeSport.
"During January, there were new contacts in which Arteta was directly involved. No personal terms have been under discussion with the entourage of Declan Rice, but Arsenal understood that the player wants to join them."
With Rice able to leave on a free transfer at the end of next season if he does not commit to a new deal, West Ham may ultimately be forced to soften their stance and accept a fee between £60m and £80m this summer.
The England international has led West Ham to Europa League and Europa Conference League qualification, but David Moyes's side are fighting relegation this season - currently 16th in the table and just one point clear of the drop zone.
While on World Cup duty with England in Qatar, Rice confirmed his desire to play in the Champions League, telling a press conference: "One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League. For the last two or three years I've been saying that.
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"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."
Since coming through the West Ham academy, Rice has amassed 11 goals and 22 assists in 222 games for the capital club, including one goal and three assists from 27 outings this season.
After losing Mohamed Elneny for the rest of the season due to a serious knee injury, Arsenal reinforced their midfield with the deadline day signing of Jorginho in January, having failed in their pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo.
The Gunners had two separate bids rejected for the Ecuadorian, who revealed his desire to leave Brighton on social media, but Arsenal's efforts to bring Caicedo to the club in January could harm their summer pursuit.
Arteta is believed to be keen to bring in both Rice and Caicedo, but Brighton were left angered with the Gunners' attempts to sign the latter in January and reportedly no longer feel comfortable doing business with Arsenal, having told them numerous times that Caicedo was not for sale under any circumstances.
Having also loaned out Albert Sambi Lokonga to Crystal Palace, Arsenal - who remain five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table - have just three fit central midfielders for the second half of the season in Jorginho, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey.
Ben Knapton
