Could Arsenal sign Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo this summer?

Arsenal will be looking to bolster their squad this summer ahead of the 2023/24 season. This summer’s transfer window will be crucial for the Gunners after they qualified for the Champions League after a six year abscence.

Arteta will also be looking to bolster his squad depth to compete with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, the Gunners fell short in the final stage of their total charge and Manchester City in red hot form eclipsed them to the title.

The focus this summer will be on the midfield which is where the game is likely won or lost. Granit Xhaka looks set to leave and join Bayer Leverkusen after seven years at the Emirates stadium.

Declan Rice is reportedly Arsenal’s top target, the West Ham and England international is valued at around £100m.

Rice is primarily a defensive midfielder however, the 24-year-old has the qualities to create openings for his team in the final third. His ball-carrying is impressive and being press resistant makes him ideal for Arteta’s set-up.

🚨Declan Rice preferred move this summer is to Arsenal with the player verbally agreeing to join the Gunners. He’s given his word to Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal have a £90million bid ready which will be submitted as soon as West Ham have played in the Europa Conference League final.… pic.twitter.com/ngmGZwN1P8

— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) June 2, 2023

While Arsenal appear to be favourites in the race with Rice keen on joining, it remains to be seen whether they can promptly meet West Ham’s transfer demands and secure their target.

Arsenal are expected to sign another midfielder and in January the Gunners came close to landing Moises Caicedo. Brighton rejected Arsenal’s £70m bid for the Ecuadorian midfielder in January however, the club are now ready to let Caicedo leave.

🗣️| @JacobsBen on Moises Caicedo: “Arsenal want Declan Rice, but that doesn’t preclude Caicedo, it just means it’s a massive spend.

“With Xhaka going to Bayer Leverkusen there’s the opportunity to bring in more than one midfielder. The question I would ask is if I would be… pic.twitter.com/srZSjsLmi4

— Arsenal Buzz (@ArsenalBuzzCom) June 2, 2023

However, it is unlikely that Arsenal would sign both Rice and Caicedo costing them over £170m. Arteta reportedly has £200m to spend plus player sales.

Arsenal would have to possibly sell Thomas Partey to fund a move for Caicedo. However, if the Gunners were to land both it would mean sacrificing strengthening other positions unless they massively spend in the window.