Arsenal are set to step up their pursuit of England international pair Declan Rice and Mason Mount this summer.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, the Gunners are pushing hard for Rice and Mount, who are childhood best friends from their time in the Chelsea youth team together.

Declan Rice and Mason Mount both wanted by Mikel Arteta

Arsenal are set for a midfield rebuild this summer with Granit Xhaka soon set for the exit door when the season concludes on Sunday, with the Swiss international Bayer Leverkusen-bound.

The Gunners are in pole position for Declan Rice, who will want to end his time at West Ham on a high with a Europa Conference League trophy in which the Hammers will take on Italian club Fiorentina in the final in Prague.

As for Mount, Mikel Arteta is expected to battle with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool for the England international, who is yet to sign a new contract at Chelsea with only 12 months left on his current deal.