Arsenal ‘make huge breakthrough in Declan Rice transfer race with West Ham & England ace preferring Gunners to Man Utd’

ARSENAL have reportedly made a huge breakthrough in their transfer chase of Declan Rice.

The Gunners are among the clubs desperate to sign the West Ham and England star.

ReutersDeclan Rice is said to prefer the chance to join Arsenal[/caption]

Manchester United, Chelsea and Bayern Munich also remain interested in the midfielder.

However, the Mirror report Rice is ready to make it clear he favours a move to the Emirates – in a major boost for the North Londoners.

Rice, 24, will likely be allowed to leave the London Stadium if a Champions League club comes in and matches the Hammers’ £100million asking price.

But it is Arsenal who have been working hardest, with boss Mikel Arteta devising a plan to rebuild his midfield this summer around Rice.

That could see both Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka exit the club, with Rice and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo top of the transfer wish list.

And the West Ham academy graduate – who was released by Chelsea aged 14 – appears keen to join the project.

Rice has publicly insisted he remains fully focused on the Hammers for now, especially as he prepares to lead his team out in Prague for the Europa Conference League final on June 7.

However, once the season is over, speculation will no doubt ramp up with Rice such an in-demand star.

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Both he and best-mate Mason Mount are wanted in a summer rebuild at Old Trafford that also features England skipper Harry Kane.

But Bayern fans were feeling confident when the popular Rice was filmed heading out for West Ham training and saying: “Guten morgan,” German for ‘hello’.

West Ham are already said to have lined up a possible replacement for Rice in the shape of relegated Southampton’s captain James Ward-Prowse.

GettyMikel Arteta wants to build his midfield around the England star[/caption]