West Ham United manager David Moyes is determined to convince captain Declan Rice that staying at the London Stadium this summer is the best option for him.
The Hammers’ captain and England star has been heavily linked with a potential summer transfer move to London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea, with Rice only having just over a year left on his current contract. However, West Ham do have a one-year option to extend Rice’s deal.
Earlier in the season, Rice did say while on international duty at the 2022 World Cup with England that he wanted to play Champions League football like many of his national team colleagues.
READ MORE: What David Moyes told Declan Rice to inspire Bournemouth goal amid pointed transfer message
While Rice’s exit is not a certainty, all roads of speculation suggest that he is in his final months at the club, although he has not said anything of the sorts himself.
Asked whether he has prepared for life with and without him next season, Moyes has said he has thought about both scenarios, but intends to do whatever he can to convince Rice that staying at the club he has been at since the age of 14.
“Yeah, obviously he is such an important player,” said Moyes. “He would be missed by any club, so any club who didn’t have him would miss him and we certainly would, partly because he is a big part but my hopes somewhere is that Dec thinks this is the best place for him to be.
“If somebody doesn’t come up with the right amount of money, it will continue to be the place he is as well.
“The club have made that pretty plain, but I hope we can continue to get the best out of Dec."
One thing that cannot be questioned all season of Rice has been his commitment to the cause on the pitch, regularly putting in starring roles against the likes of the league’s biggest sides this season, adding goals in each of the last two games, including a stunning solo goal during last week’s Europa Conference League quarter-final second leg win over Gent.
Moyes has said that whatever happens with Rice this summer, he has given everything to the club over the last ten years, both on and off the pitch.
“What Dec has given back to West Ham, whether it is the club or the supporters, the team, and more importantly himself and his family, he has shown he is absolutely dead on, not missing a thing, no question marks can be asked about Declan Rice,” added Moyes.
“He celebrates with the supporters, he talks to them, he is with them, in the dressing room he leads the team.
“If there is one thing you say about Declan Rice, whether he leaves or stays, he has been 100 per cent committed this year.”
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