David Moyes says Declan Rice is worth a "minimum" £150million and claims West Ham will take inspiration from Tottenham’s stance on Harry Kane this summer.
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy stood his ground as Kane pushed to leave the north London club for Manchester City last summer, with the Premier League champions refusing to meet Tottenham’s own £150million valuation. City boss Pep Guardiola claimed that Spurs rejected four bids last summer, despite Kane’s public attempts to leave.
Manchester United and Chelsea are both interested in England midfielder Rice this summer, but Moyes insists the captain is not for sale and that with more than three years left on his deal, West Ham are in control.
Rice has never agitated for a move away from West Ham but rejected two contract offers earlier this season and is keen to test himself at the highest level of club football.
The 23-year-old will have two years left on his current contract this summer but the Hammers hold the option of a further year.
“The first thing to say is that he is not for sale," Moyes said.
"If you are interested, well, it will be north of that because £100million was cheap last summer.
"£150million just now would be [the] minimum but he is not for sale. What I do know is that it means there are only certain clubs that could even consider it."
Moyes is still confident that West Ham can match Rice’s ambition and there is still the chance of qualifying for the Champions League by winning the Europa League this season.
West Ham face Lyon in the quarter-finals next week and would face either Barcelona or Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-finals should they get there.
Even if they do not reach the Champions League next term, Moyes is confident that the club are in the driving seat.
"I look at what Tottenham did with Harry Kane albeit it in a different way. They said: ‘No, there is a price and if someone wants to pay the price, then we would probably do it. If they don’t then he’s not going anywhere, that’s it.’ They have kept him.
"You have just mentioned two of England’s best players. Harry Kane, he got off to a bit of a slow start like a few England players after the Euros. But he is a top player.
"He proved that against us a couple of weeks ago.
"So I think in many ways, the football clubs are the people in charge of them, they have got the contracts.
"There will be times when players have got the power but at the moment we have got Declan on the best part of a 3.5 year contract. Just like Tottenham have got Harry Kane on a contract and they control what happens."
Rice has been central to West Ham’s rise over the past two years but has also cemented himself as a starter for England, one of the very few who can be assured of his place in Gareth Southgate’s best XI.
That status is something which will only add to his value.
"Maybe this time last year, going into the Euros, Declan was just beginning to get himself nailed down but even that might have been in question," said Moyes.
"There were a few people still questioning, ‘Is he that good? Maybe not’. If you think of his development in one year, from this time last year before the Euros to now, he’s been the best England player, consistent England player, I think since the Euros to now in the season."
