Rice has proven to Arsenal boss Arteta that he should sign Caicedo

Declan Rice is set to be a top summer transfer target for Arsenal. But the West Ham star’s recent form in front of goal shows that Mikel Arteta should also pursue a deal for Brighton ace Moises Caicedo.

Arsenal’s interest in Rice emerged at the turn of the year. After years of being linked with a move back to Chelsea, the club that released him at the age of 14, the Gunners have stepped in.

Arteta is confident of securing a deal for the England star, who has also attracted interest from Manchester United and Manchester City in recent windows. Arsenal will boast Champions League football next season for the first time in six years.

That will undoubtedly help their cause to land Rice. But it is not only the one midfielder they should try to sign this summer.

For both West Ham and England, Rice has more often than not been subjected to playing as a deeper-lying No 6. If he were to move to Arsenal, many would feel he would be a like-for-like replacement for Thomas Partey.

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However, his form of late has shown there is a lot more to his game. Rice has scored four goals in his last 14 matches for club and country, all coming in a variety of different ways.

His lung-busting run to score against Gent in the Europa Conference League last Thursday showed he is a lot more than just a defensive midfielder. Rice knows that but has had to do a more disciplined job at West Ham and for his country.

But to further his career, he would ideally want to showcase all his abilities on a more regular basis. Rice could be the heir to Granit Xhaka at Arsenal, not Partey.

Xhaka has enjoyed his finest season in an Arsenal shirt but turns 31 later this year. He has had seven full campaigns as a regular for the Gunners and that does take its toll.

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Whether Arteta will look to move Xhaka on this summer remains to be seen but Rice, at 24, is a younger model who could make that position on the left of a midfield three his own. Arsenal would still need to sign a defensive midfielder and that’s where Caicedo comes in.

Arsenal failed with three attempts to sign the Ecuador star in January. He has since signed a new contract to make the Gunners’ task even harder.

But if Caicedo is still as desperate now to join Arsenal as he was in the winter, then a summer move couldn’t be ruled out. Players who demand moves are far more likelier to get their wish at the end of the season than during a January window.

Caicedo is pure quality and outshone Casemiro in Sunday’s FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United. He was rightly named player of the match despite the Seagulls losing on penalties.

Rice would do a fine job as a holding midfielder for Arsenal but there is so much more to his game just waiting to burst out. Signing Caicedo alongside him will enable Rice to really come out of his shell and fulfil his endless potential.

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