West Ham boss David Moyes has insisted he will 'fight' to hang on Declan Rice amid interest from bigger clubs in the midfielder.
Despite lukewarm performances this season, Rice remains highly rated among the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea, and has previously been valued at £150 million.
The 23-year-old was a regular for England in their quarter final run at the Qatar World Cup, and recently cast doubts over his future in East London by expressing a wish to play in the Champions League.
Moyes made it clear he would not be letting his captain go easily, as he told reporters: 'He wants to win and he wants to play for a really good side, which is going to give him that opportunity to do so.
'We hope that we can reach the Champions League. It is looking difficult at this moment in time but we are not just going to roll over and let Dec walk out of the building, that is for sure. It is going to be a big fight.'
'I like it because he wants to challenge himself and wants to play in the big games and wants to be a top player. I don't think you are ever going to hold anyone back from having those ambitions.'
After an excellent 2021-22 that saw West Ham finish seventh and make the Europa League semi-finals, the club has struggled so far this season and sit just one point above the relegation zone after 15 games.
The manager insisted everything is being done to resurrect the campaign, as he continued: 'We have turned everything upside down to try and see what we can do better and improve.
'But if we were going to change then it means everything we've done for the last two years was wrong.
'Our attacking work is going to have to score us more goals. Defensively we've not been too bad in the main but our attack is where we've been falling down.'
West Ham face a real test on Boxing Day as they visit league leaders Arsenal, who have dropped just five points all season.
mikceiny
0
Rice came to blue family okay
Kewbdelsy
2
plain rice without any salt or sugar.
Cuueikrtyz
0
What is he fighting for let the guy go selfish from him at which at the end he will be sack
Pubabeipry
0
I don't know what you understand about football but he is one of the best DM
Who is better then in the current Chelsea team 😏
Lien_Meizap
1
Good player but definitely not worth £150 mil
sazbcpruz
1
Nothing special, no goals or assists.. Only rice everytime
I don't know what you understand about football but he is one of the best DM
Wooadikt
0
it's just plain rice without any skill
lleeonard
0
hmm... Rice is my staple diet..
SrinivasanRavikumar
1
UTD already have Casemiro , Rice will surely be benched . We can go for Jude he would be a nice addition . Striker is a immediate fix not sure about Cody or Goncalo or Sesko are they real No 9 ? Nope , Skriniar would be a good addition . A lot of players needs to be put up for sale to raise money. Just 3 we are done , Skriniar, Jude and a No 9 ( not sure) . but surely no Rice.
Pubabeipry
0
Nothing special, no goals or assists.. Only rice everytime
daailorsz
1
Rice is not a good player. Forget about it him.
Vetcimnops
0
The only way you can stop him is by winning trophies.
Mimacdeiko
0
No one wants him…, there’s nothing special about him… absolutely nothing special!!!!
Nobcpryz
0
there is no fight may be it's now Chelsea that wants him ... at United! we no longer needed him