West Ham manager David Moyes on Declan Rice 'panic' amid Manchester United interest

West Ham boss David Moyes insists there is no "big panic" surrounding the future of in-demand captain Declan Rice.

Manchester United have held a long-standing interest in the 23-year-old and previously earmarked him as their principal summer target for the upcoming transfer window under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The Reds have identified their midfield as a 'problem' area with incoming manager Erik ten Hag set to stage an overhaul at Old Trafford.

The Hammers have been adamant in their stance on their prized asset and have issued a hands-off warning to clubs interested. Manchester City became the latest side 'interested' but Moyes has previously slapped a £150m price tag on the England international.

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“I’ve said it [where I stand] and I think we have said what we think," he said via the Evening Standard following reports via The Guardian that the midfielder had rejected an extension in east London. "We like Dec (Rice) and he’s got three-and-a-half years to go on his contract so I don’t think there is any big panic.

"Maybe he just wants more money. People do turn down contracts.

"It is not unusual for players at clubs to turn down contracts, maybe it is a negotiation tactic." Rice was a second-half substitute for the Hammers and was forced to play centre-back after Craig Dawson's red card as Christian Pulisic scored a stoppage-time winner.

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