According to reports, Arsenal is optimistic they can beat off Chelsea for the sale of West Ham midfielder Declan Rice this summer.

The Gunners have reportedly made Rice one of their top transfer targets in the hopes that their present position as league leaders will put them in a good position to fend off competition from Chelsea, who are having a terrible season and may not qualify for the Champions League.

The Times claims as much, adding that Manchester United appear to have cooled their interest after acquiring Casemiro last summer.

Arsenal may benefit from adding a top-tier midfielder to their roster to provide depth behind Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka, since Mohamed Elneny and Albert Sambi Lokonga are not exactly promising replacements.

It will be fascinating to watch how this tale develops if AFC continue to do well this season, since the Times notes that Chelsea might be an enticing destination for Rice owing to his closeness with Mason Mount.

According to the Times, the England international would cost roughly £80 million.

His price has dropped drastically from what he would have cost in the summer of 2017, according to an exclusive report written by Ben Jacobs for CaughtOffside.