ARSENAL want Declan Rice and Romeo Lavia to form a dream midfield pairing.
Southampton value Lavia, 19, at £45million but the Gunners now see the Belgian as a better option than Moises Caicedo of Brighton.
Arsenal could face competition from Manchester City for Lavia, who included a buyback in last summer’s £10.5m move to the Saints.
Arsenal remain locked in talks over Rice - as Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey are linked with moves away from North London.
West Ham want more than the £106m British record Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez.
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It is expected that the two clubs will agree on a £100m compromise, with the potential for a further £10m in bonus payments and add-ons.
Rice is on England duty but will be on standby to confirm personal terms and undergo a medical from next week.
He believes he fits perfectly into Mikel Arteta’s policy of building a team around hungry young players who can grow together for the next five or six years.
And the opportunity to play Champions League football is another huge incentive for the midfielder, who has been told he can leave West Ham after rejecting a new £200,000-a-week contract.
The Gunners are also being linked with a move for Chelsea's Kai Havertz.
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The Germany international reportedly comes with a £70m price tag, but Arsenal are hoping to sign him for less.
And it was claimed on Friday that Arteta's men are now "very close" to agreeing a deal for the ex-Bayer Leverkusen man.
Arsenal face Man City in the Community Shield on August 6, before getting their Premier League campaign underway six days later at home to Nottingham Forest.
