Arsenal have Declan Rice to thank if they complete £68m Eberechi Eze transfer

Arsenal will have Declan Rice to thank if a transfer agreement for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze is reached, according to reports. Various outlets claim that the Gunners have stepped up plans for the 27-year-old, who has a £68million release clause in his contract at Selhurst Park.

Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are trying to strengthen Arsenal's attacking options this summer, with Eze one of several options alongside Rodrygo and Noni Madueke. They are also trying to sign a striker and are in advanced talks to sign Sporting hotshot Viktor Gyokeres.

Arsenal would rather strike a deal for less than Eze's release clause, but Palace do not need to sell their creator-in-chief and have proven difficult negotiators in the past, namely frustrating Newcastle in their pursuit of Marc Guehi a year ago.

GiveMeSport claim that Eze is considering leaving Palace after steering them to FA Cup victory and a place in the Europa League next season, though their European fate is yet to be ratified due to multi-club ownership rules.

And Rice, who left West Ham for Arsenal two years ago, is proven to be another factor in Eze's ambition to leave Palace. Such a transfer is appealing to Eze because, in his opinion, he has witnessed Rice reach new heights and 'feels ready' to replicate those efforts in his own career.

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Eze has broken into the England squad over the past two years and scored his first international goal in March, but his place at next year's World Cup is far from certain and he has yet to play European football.

He could play in both the midfield alongside Rice, competing with Martin Zubimendi and Martin Odegaard, or on the left of Areta's three-prong attack with a likely new striker and Bukayo Saka.

He started his career at Arsenal in what would be a homecoming if Eze were to return to the Emirates, having been released by the club when he was 13 before joining Fulham and then Reading.

Eze has just two years left on his contract at Palace, putting the club in a position to either sell him for maximum value now or risk his price decreasing as he enters the final 24 months of his deal.

L'Equipe claim that Arsenal have made further progress in signing Eze in the past few hours, while also making an offer to Chelsea for Madueke.

Contacts between the Gunners and Eze's representatives are said to be well advanced and all that is left to be decided is if the club will pay his release clause or attempt to negotiate a lower fee with Palace.