Declan Rice signs in club-record £80million deal from West Ham and Gabriel Jesus leads the line – How Arsenal could line up after the summer transfer window

Arsenal could have a new-look midfield next season with the north Londoners linked with a club-record deal to sign Declan Rice.

The West Ham skipper is a reported £80million target for the Gunners in the summer transfer window.

6

Mikel Arteta is claimed to have made the 24-year-old his No.1 target with Arsenal known to be desperate to bolster their midfield.

Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka will both be in their 30s come the summer as Arteta looks to add freshness to his squad.

Arsenal should have cash to splash in the next transfer window as they look set to return to the Champions League for the first time since 2017.

England international Rice has been vocal in his desire to test himself in Europe's premier competition.

talkSPORT host and Arsenal fan Laura Woods has joked she is willing to pick Rice up and drive him to the Emirates herself as supporters start dreaming of a potential transfer.

Even Piers Morgan has urged his beloved side to secure Rice's services in what would be a major coup for the top-flight table-toppers.

6

Most read in football

EFL club release ten first-team players including club icon just days after end of season

EFL captain appears to be involved in street brawl after row as club release statement

Chelsea seemingly fire Trent Alexander-Arnold dig hours after Liverpool exit confirmed

Jamie Carragher sends warning to Trent Alexander-Arnold amid Liverpool exit

But Arsenal know they will face competition in the race to sign him with Chelsea, Manchester United and City all linked with him in the past.

Here talkSPORT takes a look at what Arsenal's starting XI could be if they manage to pip their rivals to Rice's signature.

Aaron Ramsdale will keep his place between the sticks having established himself as one of the league's top goalkeepers since joining from Sheffield United in 2021.

Versatile defender Ben White is likely to keep his place at right-back - despite being signed for £50m as a centre-back.

6

Featuring on the opposite side at left-back could be Oleksandr Zinchenko with the Ukrainian ousting Kieran Tierney from the starting XI this season.

And William Saliba and Gabriel will surely be the preferred centre-back partnership with the pair starting all 18 Premier League games together.

Their impact at the back has been huge, with Arsenal conceding just 14 goals as they boast the second best defensive record in the division.

Partey will then likely be deployed as the lone defensive midfielder, with Rice coming in at the expense of Xhaka.

6

Xhaka has been one of the club's standout players this campaign, but he could be used in a rotational option as Arsenal prepare for Champions League matches.

Arteta also declared in December how he told Xhaka he was prepared to replace him last summer.

Rice would feature alongside skipper Martin Odegaard with the two to play as free-roaming No.8s in Arteta's ultra-press 4-3-3 formation.

Bukayo Saka will likely slot in on the right wing, with Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli to start on the opposite flank.

And injured Gabriel Jesus will lead the line in place of Eddie Nketiah - despite the young striker starring in his absence.

6

But Rice isn't the only shock transfer the north London side could make this summer.

Read More on talkSPORT

Clean-shaven James Harden looks completely unrecognizable without his signature beard

Chris Eubank Jr under investigation after concerning videos before Conor Benn fight

Arsenal have also been linked with another move for Dusan Vlahovic - a year after they missed out on the Serbian marksman to Juventus.

Reports in Italy have stated that the Old Lady are open to a swap deal involving Vlahovic and Saka, though there is no suggestion that Arsenal would be prepared to part ways with their academy graduate.

6