Arsenal hold a strong interest in a summer move for West Ham midfielder Declan Rice, insider Dean Jones has claimed.

What's the word?

The Englishman looks set to leave the London Stadium after previously admitting he wants to play in the Champions League, and he will have just a year left on his contract.

A lot of clubs are reportedly interested, but Arsenal have made him their top target for a summer move, and could be further spurred on after missing out on a January deal for Moises Caicedo.

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Jones highlighted the heavy interest from Mikel Arteta's side in a deal.

"The Declan Rice interest is very serious, I’m told," he stated.

"I was very doubtful about the authenticity of that rumour at first but I’ve checked it out several times with different sources and they are definitely going to have a crack at signing him.”

A statement deal

Arsenal are on track to win their first Premier League title since 2004, and if they end up lifting the trophy, it would also seal their return to the Champions League for the first time since 2017, they could perhaps attract Rice with the lure of joining the title-winners.

Signing an England international, who has been hailed as a "monster", in a big-money deal would confirm Arsenal's transfer pull as one of the elite clubs, and their squad would be in excellent shape to compete for Europe's biggest honour.

With Jorginho joining the club in the late stages of the January transfer window, Arsenal are now well-stocked with quality in the middle of the park, but Rice would be both an immediate and future signing as Arteta continues to build a young team.

Had Arsenal succeeded in bringing in Moises Caicedo to the club with a big-money transfer, perhaps plans to recruit Rice would have been shelved. However, Brighton's stubbornness over that deal - as well as having avoided breaking the bank for Jorginho - could allow the Gunners to reassess ahead of the summer, at which point, the West Ham ace may yet emerge as the more desirable target.