Arsenal have reportedly identified Declan Rice as their top midfield target for this summer with the club said to be of the belief they can beat Chelsea to his signature.
West Ham have reportedly become increasingly resigned to losing the midfielder this summer having seen a number of contract offers rebuked and Rice himself publicly admitting that he has ambitions to win the game's biggest prizes.
Chelsea were interested in their former youth player last summer, who they let go when he was just 14, and it has long been believed that they led the race ahead of a host of other admirers.