Mikel Arteta wants to bolster his Arsenal squad this summer (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta is planning to sign three players alongside West Ham midfielder Declan Rice this summer as he prepares for Arsenal’s return to the Champions League.

The Gunners are well on their way to qualifying for next season’s Champions League, sitting top of the Premier League – 16 points above fifth-placed Newcastle United – with 14 games remaining.

While Arsenal have climbed to the Premier League summit this season and will go five points clear of Manchester City if they beat Everton on Wednesday night, Arteta has been reliant on a fairly small squad.

Only three clubs have used fewer players in the Premier League this season, while Arsenal’s substitutes have played the fewest total minutes.

Arsenal bolstered Arteta’s squad with the signings of Leandro Trossard, Jorginho and Jakub Kiwior in January but the Spanish manager believes further reinforcements will be needed in the summer.

Arteta is keen to welcome England star Rice to the Emirates and The Times say Arsenal remain confident of beating London rivals Chelsea to a deal.

Rice, 24, could cost up to £100m but Arsenal are still planning other moves, with Arteta keen to sign two central midfielders, a winger and a new left-back this summer.

Declan Rice is expected to leave West Ham at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal’s search for midfielders could see the Gunners revive their interest in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, who they made multiple bids for in January.

Given Arsenal’s need to invest, they will also consider offers for a number of players on the periphery of Arteta’s squad, including Kieran Tierney, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares.

Arsenal hero Emmanuel Petit is keen to see Rice arrive at his former club and says Caicedo or Alexis Mac Allister would be ideal midfield partners for the West Ham star in north London.

‘I’m a big fan of Declan Rice,’ Petit told Premier League Odds.

‘It is time for him to leave West Ham and play at a higher level to reach his potential. He needs to play in important competitions every single season if he wants to improve and move on to the next stage.

‘I think that he is struggling at West Ham and he does not have a good environment to adapt and improve.

‘I’m also still a big fan of Mac Allister and Caicedo from Brighton, since I first saw them play. I know Arsenal won’t try and buy them all, but they would also fit next to Rice really well.

‘It also wouldn’t be much of a big move, geographically, for Rice as he is located in London with West Ham, so the move won’t hurt too much.

‘But with all due respect to West Ham, it is time for Rice to go.

‘It reminds me of Lampard when he first left West Ham and went to Chelsea and look what he achieved for himself.

‘He became one of the best midfielders in the world at Chelsea. Rice should follow his example and leave given Arsenal are ready to buy him.’

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Arsenal are preparing for a busy summer…