Arsenal are preparing to launch a third bid for after rejected their first two offers, according to reports.
The Gunners’ – and the north Londoners are edging closer towards the £100m figure West Ham want.
Arsenal’s opening offer for Rice came last week and was worth £80m with Mikel Arteta’s side keen to secure the signature of their No.1 transfer target.
While Arsenal remain favourites to sign the 24-year-old – their haggling risks them being gazumped by the likes of – who also hold an interest in the midfielder.
The report that Arsenal will quickly return with a third bid for the England international, which will be worth around £90 plus add-ons.
Meanwhile, other indicate that Arsenal will not make an opening offer to sign Southampton’s Romeo Lavia until the deal for Rice is secured.
The 19-year-old only moved to Southampton last summer fromthe Etihad, penning a five-year contract – but after their relegation from the  to the Championship – it looks set to be a swift exit from St Mary’s.
, with the Gunners thought to have ‘concrete and strong interest’ in bringing him to the Emirates.
Lavia is one of Southampton’s most valuable assets so they want to make sure they maximise their profit when he inevitably leaves and theyÂ
He has also attracted interest from Chelsea and Liverpool – and the Blues.
