The England midfielder has been linked with Chelsea and Manchester United, but David Moyes has no plans to sell.
Many of Declan Rice’s lawyers, with that list to include Manchester United and Chelsea, have been warned that the West Ham midfielder is worth “well over £ 100 million ($ 138m ). ”
Interest in the England international has been steadily rising over recent seasons, with the flexibility and consistency of the 22-year-old making it attractive to Premier League heavyweights.
Those at London Stadium do not intend to part with valuable assets, however, and are willing to drop the highest price tags on the player without demand.
What was said?
Hammers boss Moyes said Sky Sports profited around a man who has taken on the duties of captain this season: “I do not agree with the owners that Declan Rice is a £ 100m footballer. Far, far more than £ 100m. Long, much more.
“I look at the players who have joined and come in for some clubs from overseas and nowhere near the impact that Declan Rice would have.
“I certainly wouldn’t charge him. You can decide what figure you want to put on it but I wouldn’t allow anything like that, that’s for sure. ”
Could Rice leave West Ham this summer?
It would be clear that he would make a big offer to West Ham even considering a split with their home star.
Rice has not offered any indication that he is looking for a way out and would see a top-four finish in 2020-21 offering him the Champions League platform with the Hammers.
“Do we need the Champions League to keep Declan? No, because Declan is under contract first, so he can’t go anywhere, and I will keep saying it and I hope people know, when I say something, I mean it, ”Moyes said.
“We didn’t have an offer for Declan Rice and I hope we don’t get one. And you have an idea now of where we would have to be if it were even to be considered, certainly by me.
“If we could end up in Europe, in some European situation, I think it would be progress. And that would be an improvement for Declan Rice as well because he’s been at West Ham while they’ve been jumping around the bottom, so this is new for Declan as well.
“Declan seems to be very settled and in fact he is the captain of West Ham, he plays for England, and I want to keep Declan thinking that his ambitions can be achieved here at West Ham. and I have to keep pushing that and keep pushing that with the owners as well.
“For me, I looked at the prices of some of the players who went to clubs recently and couldn’t tie Declan Rice boots. ”
How long is Rice’s contract?
West Ham are playing a key part of their future plans tied to a contract until summer 2024.
That agreement includes the option for a 12-month extension, meaning there is no pressure on Moyes men to sell.
For now, they are aiming to end the current campaign as positively as possible, with a home date against Leeds on Monday allowing them to climb backwards towards the top four.