Arsenal and Chelsea ‘vying’ for 11-goal midfielder as Declan Rice arrival delay explained

Manchester City and Burnley will lift the curtain on the 2023/24 Premier League season exactly one month from today as English top flight football returns on August 11.

Arsenal, who face Pep Guardiola’s Citizens in the Community Shield on August 6, kick off their league campaign at home to Nottingham Forest on the day after the opening match. In the meantime, Mikel Arteta still has plenty of time to get a few big transfer deals over the line.

The Gunners are said to be ‘vying’ with London rivals Chelsea for the signing of a midfielder who scored 11 goals for his current club last season. Elsewhere, one report has explained why Declan Rice’s £105 million move from West Ham has seemingly been delayed. Here are the latest Arsenal transfer news headlines on Tuesday, July 11:

Arsenal and Chelsea ‘vying’ for 11-goal midfielder

Per a report from CaughtOffside, via Le10sport, Celta Vigo midfielder Gabri Veiga has been linked with a move away from the Spanish side and both Arsenal and Chelsea are said to be interested. Tottenham Hotspur have also been linked with the 21-year old who scored 11 goals last season.

It is said that Veiga could provide useful depth for the Gunners in the attacking midfield area as cover and an understudy to Martin Odegaard. Chelsea are also said to require more depth in that area while Spurs’ recent capture of James Maddison seems to distance them from the player.

Declan Rice arrival delay explained

The Dail Mail have offered an explanation as to why Arsenal have yet to confirm Declan Rice’s £105 million arrival from West Ham. It is claimed that “the move is set to happen imminently but the north London side have not yet formally announced or officially completed it despite manager Mikel Arteta wanting him to travel on their pre-season tour of the USA.”

Apparently, West Ham are indeed ready to ‘rubber stamp’ the deal but are waiting on Arsenal’s lawyers to agree on the final wording in the contracts. Rice’s move will be completed once this has been finalised, hopefully in the next few days.