Report: Arsenal eyeing Gundogan, Rice, Mount for midfield rebuild

Mikel Arteta is desperate to continue Arsenal's progress and could oversee significant changes to his midfield this summer.

The Gunners remain frontrunners in the race to sign West Ham United's Declan Rice, according to The Guardian's Nick Ames, but may face competition from Manchester United to complete a transfer that could prove very expensive.

Mason Mount is also reportedly on Arsenal's radar, but The Athletic's David Ornstein expects Liverpool and Manchester United to join the north London club in pursuing the 24-year-old. Chelsea will try to encourage Mount to sign fresh terms at Stamford Bridge that will take him beyond his contact's current expiration in June 2024.

However, the most intriguing potential summer addition could be Manchester City captain Ilkay Gundogan. The 32-year-old has been crucial during the business end of the season, starring in matches against Leeds United and Everton to help City overcome Arsenal's Premier League title challenge, but his contract expires shortly after the campaign is over. City would like to keep Gundogan, but the player wants a deal which runs until at least 2025, according to The Guardian. Arteta reportedly hopes his relationship with Gundogan - the pair worked together at City when Arteta served as Pep Guardiola's assistant - will help Arsenal beat Barcelona to the midfielder's signature.

The Gunners signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City last summer.

Arsenal's midfield revamp has been partly triggered by the anticipated departure of Granit Xhaka. Bayer Leverkusen are in advanced talks to sign the 30-year-old for €15 million this summer, The Guardian's Fabrizio Romano reported last week.