West Ham United boss David Moyes has spoken about Declan Rice's future at the club amid links to a summer Arsenal transfer.
Rice produced a hugely impressive display on Saturday evening as the Hammers held high-flying Newcastle United to a 1-1 draw. "Undoubtedly Declan is going to be a top player," said Moyes before claiming that the England international will cost any potential suitors a British transfer record.
"He'll be a British transfer record if he ever leaves West Ham." When asked if his captain's departure was inevitable, the former Manchester United manager added: "I hope it's not. I hope he sees his time here."
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Despite Moyes' comments, Rice has made it no secret of his desire to play in the UEFA Champions League, a competition that West Ham are unlikely to offer him anytime soon .“One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League,” he said last month.
“For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that. I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing.
"I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end, you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in."
One team who will almost certainly be in next season's elite European competition is Arsenal, who currently sit on top of the Premier League, 14 points clear of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. Spurs have also played an extra match than their north London rivals, who are the favourites to sign the 24-year-old this summer, as per The Guardian.
Their report claims that Rice's preferred move is to the Emirates Stadium, with the prospect of playing under Gunners manager Mikel Arteta thought to be a major reason as to why. If Moyes' comments are anything to go by, he will cost Arsenal a club-record fee, which currently stands at the £72million they paid to sign Nicolas Pepe back in the summer of 2019.
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