Liverpool and Arsenal brace for transfer saga as Aston Villa search near and Fer for new faces

Can we update the race to sign West Ham United star Declan Rice to a saga yet? It feels that way.

Little has been said by Rice himself or Hammers manager David Moyes over what could lie ahead for the England star but his future seems to be a constant source of speculation across all forms of the media as the summer transfer window rapidly approaches.

Liverpool and Arsenal are said to be ‘planning talks’ with the £100m-rated midfielder according to the Daily Mirror but the situation could be complicated by Brighton and Hove Albion star Alexis Mac Allister. The Seagulls star is believed to be a target for Jurgen Klopp as the Reds boss looks to conduct an overhaul of his midfield at the end of the season. Journalist Rudy Galetti has claimed the German boss is hopeful of landing both players and pairing them as part of a new look central pairing.

Meanwhile, Football Transfers have suggested the Reds remain interested in a free transfer move for Leicester City star Youri Tielemans as he approaches the end of his contract at the King Power Stadium but will face competition from Tottenham Hotspur.

Aston Villa are set for a hectic summer transfer window as Unai Emery looks to put his own stamp on the squad he inherited from Steven Gerrard.

The former Arsenal manager has overseen a remarkable turnaround in fortunes at Villa Park and his side head into the final weeks of the Premier League season still in contention for a place in Europe. That is said to be Emery’s ultimate goal as he looks to end the club’s 13-year absence from European competition and the Spaniard wants to add further quality to his ranks to make sure competing on the continent becomes a regular occurrence.

Links with Manchester City defender Kyle Walker have been widely reported in recent weeks but it is one of Walker’s former Etihad Stadium team-mates that is said to be on Emery’s radar. Football Insider have claimed Villa are keen on a move for Barcelona forward Ferran Torres as after he was ‘placed on the market’ by the La Liga giants.