Arsenal ready to break the bank to secure the prime years of their midfield general

Arsenal have opened discussions with Declan Rice over a new long-term contract as the club move to secure the futures of their key players.

The England international still has two years remaining on his current deal, while Arsenal also hold the option to extend that agreement by a further 12 months.

Despite that security, the Premier League leaders are keen to ensure that Rice commits the prime years of his career to the club.

Early negotiations have therefore begun over an improved contract that would extend his stay in north London.

The proposed agreement is also expected to include a significant salary increase.

Rice currently earns around £240,000 per week and the new deal would strengthen his position among Arsenal’s highest-paid players.

The move follows the recent extension signed by Bukayo Saka, who agreed a four-and-a-half-year contract worth at least £300,000 per week.

Discussions between Arsenal and Rice are still in the early stages and there is currently no fixed timeline for when the talks might be concluded.

However, the club have begun the process of securing the long-term future of one of their most influential players.

Rice joined Arsenal from West Ham United in the summer of 2023 in a deal worth £105 million.

Since arriving at the Emirates Stadium, he has developed into one of the most important figures in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

The midfielder has made more than 100 Premier League appearances for Arsenal and has been widely recognised as one of the leading midfielders in European football.

Rice also remains a central figure for the England national team and has already earned more than 70 international caps.

Arsenal’s decision to open renewal talks reflects a wider strategy of retaining the club’s core group of players.

Several key members of Arteta’s squad have signed contract extensions over the past year.

Those players include William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri.

The club have also opened discussions with Jurrien Timber regarding an improved contract.

In addition, David Raya and Leandro Trossard have recently been rewarded with enhanced terms, although those deals did not extend the length of their contracts.

Arsenal currently lead the Premier League title race by seven points ahead of Manchester City, who still have a game in hand.

The Gunners are aiming to secure their first English league title since 2004, when the club won the championship under Arsene Wenger.

Ensuring that Rice remains a central figure in the squad is viewed internally as an important step in maintaining the team’s long-term competitiveness.

The post Arsenal ready to break the bank to secure the prime years of their midfield general first appeared on ArsenalNews.co.uk.