Rice has been Arsenal’s top midfield target all summer and they have put in months of work in order to get their hands on him.
They have failed with two bids for the midfielder and are expected to put in a third bid for the West Ham captain soon.
But Manchester City have now joined the race with the intent of taking Rice from under Arsenal’s nose in the ongoing transfer window.
According to Sky Italia, the Premier League champions are working on putting together a bid to sign the Hammers skipper.
They have already signed Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea but Pep Guardiola sees Rice as Ilkay Gundogan’s replacement.
Arsenal are now facing the real threat of competing with last season’s treble winners for the signature of Rice.
Manchester City could offer Kalvin Phillips to West Ham as part of a deal to take the England midfielder to the Etihad.
Manchester United are also exploring offering Harry Maguire or Scott McTominay to West Ham as part of a deal for Rice.
