West Ham can no longer fight off teams playing in the Champions League as Rice eyes a move to a bigger club, and they would almost certainly prefer to sell him to a foreign club rather than face him in the Premier League next season.
It could throw a spanner in the works for Arteta, who may now have to focus on alternative midfield targets. The north London side tried to sign Moises Caicedo in January but Brighton rejected all three bids for the Ecuadorian.
Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi could be another backup option given that the Spaniard had a release clause of £51m written into his contract.
But missing out on Rice, arguably one of the most consistent players in the Premier League, would represent a blow for Arsenal in their efforts to bolster their squad this summer.
