Arsenal have been linked with a sensational swoop for Declan Rice next summer. How would the Gunners line up with the England midfielder in their ranks?
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According to the Times, the Arsenal are interested in making a move for Rice next summer when his contract with West Ham would only have a year to run, their belief that they could acquire him for significantly less than the Hammers' £100 million plus asking price.
It could also represent some welcome revenge for the Gunners over Chelsea, with the Blues long-term admirers of their former academy player and having beaten Arsenal, at the last minute, to the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakhtar Donetsk.
Rice is a defensive midfielder par excellence, one who has averaged two interceptions per game over the last year whilst completing 90 per cent of his passes.
With Mikel Arteta having shifted from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 in recent months, it is fair to assume that would be the system Rice would be folded into, and in such a case, Thomas Partey's position is under most threat.
He and Granit Xhaka formed a double pivot earlier in the season, but in a midfield three, Xhaka has more license on the left and is now up to three goals and four assists for the season. Partey's injury record is also of increasing concern.
Elsewhere, Gabriel Jesus should be back leading the line in time for next season. The Brazilian joined in a £45m deal from Manchester City last summer and had five goals and six assists from 14 games before a knee injury effectively ruled him out for the rest of the current campaign.
Otherwise, the Premier League leaders could hardly seem more settled. Ben White has thrived at right-back, making way for the revelation that has been William Saliba at centre-back.
Left-back might offer the most likely transfer out next summer - Oleksandr Zinchenko, who joined alongside Jesus from City, has displaced Kieran Tierney as first choice, and the Scot is unlikely to stick about without the promise of regular first-team minutes.
