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Arsenal have approached Declan Rice over a new long-term contract.

Rice’s existing deal still has two years left to run, while there is also an option to extend that term by a further 12 months.

But the Premier League leaders are looking for the England international to commit his prime years to the club.

Renewal talks are underway, and the offer will include a pay increase to solidify his position as one of Arsenal’s best earners.

Bukayo Saka recently signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract worth a minimum of £300,000 per week. Rice’s current deal is worth a reported £240,000 per week.

Discussions are described as being at an early stage, and no timeline has been set for their completion.

But the process of ensuring Rice stays in north London for the foreseeable future is underway.

Since joining Arsenal from West Ham in a deal worth £105m in 2023, the 27-year-old has established a reputation as one of the best midfielders in Europe.

He has made 102 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, while he has also established himself as a key player for England, having already won 72 caps.

Arsenal have moved to lock in the futures of their top stars, with Saka, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Ethan Nwaneri signing extensions over the past 12 months.

The club has also opened talks with Jurrien Timber over an improved deal.

David Raya and Leandro Trossard have also been awarded with improved contracts in recent months, although those deals did not include additional time on their deals.

Arsenal lead the race for the Premier League title by seven points from Manchester City, who have a game in hand, heading into the weekend.

They host Everton, while City go to West Ham, with both games on Saturday.

The Gunners last won the English league title in 2004, during Arsene Wenger’s reign as manager.

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Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has said his side was affected by Bayer Leverkusen’s goal, as they drew 1-1 in the Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday night.

Robert Andrich opened the scoring for the hosts from a corner-kick, before a late Kai Havertz penalty ensured the game ended in a draw.

The result brought Arsenal’s perfect run in the competition to an end ahead of the second leg.

Arteta said: “The game had very different periods… we started the game quite well, then they scored and the game changed completely.

“In the 2nd half we had to stay emotionally under control and very composed.

“In the end we found our way to draw the match.

“Football gives us very nice and funny stories… I was impressed by how composed Havertz was when he took the penalty.”

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Bayern Munich put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday by sweeping aside Atalanta 6-1 in a powerful demonstration of why the German giants are one of the favourites to win the competition.

In front in the 12th minute in Bergamo of the first leg through Josip Stanisic, Bayern are all-but through following a stunning brace from standout player Michael Olise and further strikes from Serge Gnabry, Nicolas Jackson and Jamal Musiala.

Bayern have lost just once at home this season and the marauding display, which came with Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala both starting the game on the bench, left Atalanta with basically no chance of progressing.

A blockbuster tie against one of Real Madrid or Manchester City awaits Bayern in the next round, save for a historic collapse in next week’s second leg in Munich.

For Atalanta it will be a comeback too far after the thrilling way they got past Borussia Dortmund and into the last 16, and their near-certain elimination will end Italy’s participation in the Champions League for this season.

Being knocked out by European royalty is no disgrace for a traditionally tiny club punching way above its weight at home and abroad the last decade.

But it was a chastening night for both Raffaele Palladino’s players, who were applauded off by their vociferous support both at half-time and the final whistle, and Italian football.

Even without Kane and Musiala on the pitch Bayern came straight for Atalanta, pressing relentlessly, and Olise twice tested the hosts’ goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi in the first five minutes.

It was Luis Diaz’s effort, deflected out for a corner, which led to Stanisic taking advantage of poor defending at the subsequent set piece.

Atalanta were asleep as Olise rolled his corner to Gnabry who, completely unmarked in the penalty area, pushed the ball on to Stanisic to net from close range.

Olise left Atalanta with a mountain to climb in the 22nd minute when he drifted in from the right flank and beautifully curled in his second Champions League goal of the season.

The France forward was again key for Bayern’s third three minutes later, his beautiful first touch leading to a Gnabry flying through on goal and effectively ending the tie as a contest.

Gnabry also had time to clip the crossbar as Bayern ran riot, and coach Vincent Kompany showed no mercy by bringing on Musiala and Alphonso Davies at the break.

Jackson drilled in the fourth in the 52nd minute and from there the night began to take an embarrassing turn for Atalanta whose fans could do nothing but clap when Olise leathered in the goal of the night in the 64th minute.

Jackson set up Musiala to guide home Bayern’s sixth three minutes later, and by the time Pasalic netted Atalanta’s consolation goal in stoppage time the away side could have had double figures.

But the small pocket of Bayern fans in the corner of the New Balance Arena weren’t complaining as their team rolled on towards a showdown with City or Madrid.

AFP