Arsenal already looking for Rice transfer alternatives as they join Premier League rivals in race for £30m Monaco star
ARSENAL are already looking for Declan Rice transfer alternatives as they join the race for a £30million Monaco star.
The Gunners are set to rival two of their Premier League rivals for the signing of Youssouf Fofana.
Rice has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer as part of Mikel Arteta’s squad overhaul.
However, Arsenal have already had two bids rejected by West Ham United and are now being rivalled for his signature by Manchester City.
The treble winners are the bookies’ favourites to sign Rice after entering the race for the England international.
As a result, Arteta and Arsenal have started looking at alternative targets in the event they miss out on Rice.
L’Equipe report that Fofana has been identified as a potential player of interest.
Arsenal are said to have joined the Hammers and Newcastle United with their interest in the France midfielder.
Monaco value Fofana at £30million and are willing to let him leave if that valuation is met as he enters the final year of his contract.
The report adds, though, that there has yet to be any approaches for Fofana, with Inter Milan and Roma also amongst his admirers.
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Fofana, who West Ham see as a possible replacement for Rice, joined Monaco from Strasbourg in 2020.
He scored twice from midfield in 47 appearances last term but could not help his side qualify for Europe.
Monaco missed out on continental football by two points as they finished sixth in Ligue 1.