will shift their attention to signing Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi and Bayer Leverkusen attacker Moussa Diaby after potentially completing a deal for midfielder .
The international is , and the club have signalled they’re willing to break their wage structure to sign Rice.
West Ham want £100m+ for the midfielder but Arsenal are confident of talking the Hammers down from that valuation, to a fee closer to £80m.
Rice is considered a priority and Arsenal will not work on other deals until the matter is resolved, with Brighton ace Moisés Caicedo considered an alternative if West Ham do not lower their asking price.
But Arteta has ambitious plans beyond signing a central midfielder, with the Daily Mail saying he already has his next two targets lined up.
of the season has cost Arsenal dearly as Rob Holding struggled to replace the Frenchman.
Arteta is keen on signing another dominant defender and former Chelsea ace Guehi is a key target.
The Eagles value the defender at around £45m and Chelsea have a buy-back clause in the defender’s deal, though they’re unlikely to activate that.
The next target is Moussa Diaby, a playmaker from Bayer Leverkusen.
Arsenal explored signing the attacker in January but Leverkusen were not interested in listening to offers.
But they’re realistic about holding onto Diaby, who has 49 goals and 48 assists since joining the club less than four years ago from Paris Saint-Germain.
That could take Arsenal’s spending well past the £200m mark but the club hope to raise funds by selling the likes of Kieran Tierney, Holding and Emile Smith Rowe.
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