Arsenal 'have to smash records' to sign £80m star the Emirates | OneFootball

Arsenal 'will have to smash a few records' to lure West Ham United star Declan Rice to the Emirates Stadium, journalist Paul Brown has told GiveMeSport.

While the Gunners are currently battling it out for the Premier League title, boss Mikel Arteta and sporting director Edu are already making plans ahead of the transfer window reopening for business in the summer.

According to Football.London, Arsenal are prioritising a move for Rice after finding themselves behind a host of other clubs in the hunt for Borussia Dortmund talisman Jude Bellingham.

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The report suggests Arteta has made strengthening his midfield options a priority despite already completing the £12million signing of Jorginho last month.

Arsenal have received a timely boost in their pursuit of Rice as respected CBS reporter Ben Jacobs recently told GiveMeSport that the north Londoners are ahead of Chelsea in the race to strike a deal.

It is understood that the Gunners are growing in confidence that they will land the England international for close to £80million.

Rice will enter the final 12 months of his £60,000-per-week contract in the summer, but West Ham have an option to extend the agreement by another year.

What has Paul Brown said about Rice?

Brown believes Arsenal will have to show ambition if they want to beat Chelsea and other suitors to Rice's acquisition.

The reliable journalist feels the capital club will have to splash the cash in order to tempt West Ham into doing business.

Brown told GiveMeSport: "I still think the asking price there is going to be so high that Arsenal would have to really show they mean business.

"They will have to smash a few records to get him, but there's no reason why they shouldn't."

Would Rice be a good signing for Arsenal?

FBref statistics show Rice has averaged more interceptions and clearances, as well as boasting a better pass completion ratio, per 90 minutes than Jorginho this season.

Although Arsenal have one of the strongest defences in the Premier League, with Newcastle United being the only side to have conceded fewer goals this term, the 24-year-old's presence in front of the backline would make them even more difficult for opponents to break down.

Rice has been West Ham's star performer since the campaign got underway, with none of his teammates surpassing the average domestic match rating handed to him by WhoScored.

Having been appointed as the Hammers' captain last summer, following the retirement of Mark Noble, he would also bring leadership qualities to the Arsenal fold.

That will be an additional attraction for Arteta and the Gunners should not hesitate in making a move for Rice, who has already made more than 220 West Ham appearances during the early stages of his career.