Arsenal legend Ray Parlour says Declan Rice will "definitely" sign for the Gunners this summer

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes that West Ham midfielder Declan Rice will 'definitely' be playing for the Gunners next season.

Rice has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, with The Times claiming that he is the club's number one transfer target.

Arsenal will be able to offer him Champions League football for next season, the first time they have featured in the competition since the 2016/17 campaign.

That may well appeal to Rice over the likes of Chelsea, with Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg claiming last month that the Blues were keen on bringing him to Stamford Bridge.

If he takes charge of the club, however, Mauricio Pochettino may push for the signing of the England international, having been linked with making a move for him while the Tottenham manager.

Parlour, however, believes that Rice will be donning the red shirt of Arsenal next season.

Arsenal legend gives Rice verdict

Speaking on fellow Gunners legend David Seaman's podcast, Seaman Says, the three-time Premier League winner declared: "He'll be at Arsenal next year! He's definitely going to be at Arsenal next year."

Writing in a column for The Sun in March, however, the former midfielder did point out some areas where Rice would need to improve.

He explained: "Sometimes you have to get forward a little bit more because I always think [with] holding midfielders, there will be occasions in a game where you do get past your other midfielder and it's just a bit of common sense for me that the other midfielder fills in for you.

"That's what I used to do when we played for Arsenal because, you know, not everybody's got a set position at times. You'll see yourself in a different part of the pitch.

"That's where the other team-mates have got to say, 'Right, he's out of position there but we fill in for him and then there's no problem'. So I think Declan Rice definitely can get forward a little bit more."

"At any team he goes into he would make them stronger, so if Arsenal have got a chance to maybe buy Declan Rice, especially if they can win the league this year, that would be a fantastic signing."

Rice has certainly taken Parlour's advice in recent weeks, scoring a sensational solo goal in the Europa Conference League quarter-final against Gent with a driving run from inside his own half.