Declan Rice has broken the silence on transfer speculation regarding his future and has poured cold water on rumours he could leave West Ham.
The academy product has cemented his place in the starting line-up this season and his performances have not gone unnoticed, with speculation reignited after he made his England debut over the recent international break.
The 20-year-old has already drawn the attention of Manchester United, with press reports suggesting he could be one of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first summer signing, while Manchester City have also been tipped to make a move.
However, fans are desperate to see Rice remain at the London Stadium and they have been given a boost after Rice addressed the rumours.
Declan Rice's outrageous skill & Marko Arnautovic's message - West Ham moments missed vs Everton
“I’m happy. I’m playing week in week out. I have a special connection with the fans. It’s unbelievable [the London Stadium]. I love every minute of being at West Ham," he told BT Sport.
"Being compared to players, being linked to other teams, I don’t really take any of it in to be honest. If you think about it too much you get caught up in it.
"I’m only 20, you’ve got your whole career ahead of you. I’m just focused on playing for West Ham and playing with a smile on my face and enjoying it.”
'Embarrassing' - West Ham fans rip into Marko Arnautovic as saga over his attitude hits new low
Manuel Pellegrini was approached about the subject before West Ham's defeat to Everton. He admitted every player has their price but seemed confident that Rice's mind was set on the London Stadium.
The Hammers boss said: "You never want to sell your good players but you understand that in some clubs, always there will be a deal.
"If the players want to go, if the deal is very good for the player, if the deal is very good for this club and he can continue growing, it’s very difficult for you to keep the player.
"The important thing is Declan Rice is not thinking about going out of this team. He thinks to play here, and the future depends on so many things.
"We cannot just talk about rumours."
Keep up to date with the latest news, features and exclusives from football.london via the free football.london app for iPhone and Android.
Available to download from the App Store and Google Play.
