Declan Rice delivers verdict on £100m Arsenal transfer target after ‘contact made’

Declan Rice insists that he is relishing the competition from Alex Scott with England, as Arsenal are linked with a potential big-money transfer swoop for the Bournemouth star.

Scott continues to go from strength to strength for both club and country, earning his first senior caps for the Three Lions during the previous international break in recognition for his fine form in the Premier League.

Scott picked up a thigh injury during that camp that it was feared could keep him out for up to two months, though the issue was not as serious as first feared and he was back on the Bournemouth bench in their last game against Ipswich.

While Scott has been unable to press his claims for further England involvement during the current international window, Rice knows that he will be quickly back challenging for a regular starting role in Tuchel’s engine room.

“The way he's being spoken about is totally right because of the levels he's set for himself and I totally understand playing for England comes with competition.

Future team-mates? Arsenal could look to pair Declan Rice and Alex Scott

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“When we [Arsenal] signed Bruno Guimaraes, when we signed [Martin] Zubimendi, when we had Myles [Lewis-Skelly], [Mikel] Merino, [Martin] Odegaard, you're competing with six midfielders at your club every day so for me there's nothing different.

“Throughout my whole career there's been competition. It's normal.”

Rice could yet line up with Scott at club level, with reports last week claiming that Arsenal have joined Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for his services ahead of the January transfer window.