Arsenal receive boost as Rice told to snub Man Utd and Chelsea for Gunners

Arsenal's primary midfield transfer target Declan Rice has been told to snub Manchester United for the Gunners.

The north Londoners are currently eight points clear at the Premier League summit, with nine games remaining of the season.

Indeed, should they claim a crucial win at Anfield on Sunday, Arteta’s men would become many people’s favourites to lift their first league title in 19 years.

Nevertheless, behind the scenes, Arsenal’s recruitment team are not resting on their laurels.

According to Football Insider, Arsenal are keen to add a central midfielder to their squad in the summer window and have drawn up a three-man shortlist.

The club’s hierarchy has allegedly identified Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, Everton’s Amadou Onana and West Ham's Declan Rice as options for the summer market, with the latter believed to be the club’s preferred target.

And Rice’s former team-mate Andy Carroll has insisted that the England international join the Gunners over other possible destinations.

Rice to join Arsenal?

Carroll, who played for West Ham between 2013 and 2019 claimed he wants to see Rice sign for Arsenal.

The 24-year-old is believed to be a target for both Manchester United and Chelsea, however, the midfielder would be most suited to Arsenal’s style of play, according to Carroll.

Speaking to Metro.co.uk Carroll said: “I can’t really see Declan Rice leaving the Premier League.

“West Ham aren’t doing great at the moment but Declan loves West Ham. I was at the club with him when he was a kid coming through – he is a great guy and a great player.

“We all know he needs to go to a top club. I can’t see him going outside of England, but he should go to a top-three or top-two club.

“I’d like to see Declan at Arsenal to be honest – I’m not an Arsenal fan but I like the way they’re playing at the minute.

“The way Mikel Arteta has them playing and the young lads coming through – you see the team and the average age is incredible.”

Topics: Arsenal, Declan Rice, Manchester United, Mikel Arteta, Andy Carroll, Transfers

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.