‘There was a phone call’ - Arsenal dealt fresh transfer setback in bid to land in-demand midfielder

Arsenal have been dealt a potential blow in their reported bid to land West Ham United star Declan Rice.

Rice is said to be one of the Gunners’ main targets ahead of this summer as they look to improve the heart of their midfield. Thomas Partey has been linked with a move away, but it seems Mikel Arteta wants to add an elite player to his midfield in any case, and Rice fits the bill, impressing for both West Ham and England over recent years.

Up to this point, the Hammers have managed to keep hold of Rice, slapping on a £100million price tag last summer to ensure they didn’t lose their star man.

West Ham still have negotiating power, holding an extra year on Rice’s current contract, which initially expires in 2024. But they may well be pursuaded to allow Rice to go and compete at the very top level for the right price this summer, given what he has done for the club up to this point.

Arsenal are said to be prepared to make a move, while Manchester United have also been linked. But according to Bundesliga expert Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich are now showing an interest.

He tweeted: “There was a phone call with Tuchel a few days ago! Been told it was a good talk. Both appreciate each other. Rice is open to join Bayern & Tuchel. FCB wants to intensify their efforts now. He’s still a transfer target. But: Time is running as he could sign for Arsenal.“

Tuchel was interested in Rice during his Chelsea days, so it seems logical he would be interested now that he has linked up with Bayern. Meanwhile, Rice is only concentrating on West Ham’s upcoming Europa Conference League for now, recently saying: “Everything else is just noise and speculation. Obviously, I can’t help that, it comes with playing.

“But my main focus is playing for West Ham and winning this final. My heart’s set on that, doing it for the club, for my family, for the fans and that’s my only focus. I want to make them all very happy and my focus is on doing that.”