West Ham manager David Moyes has issued a firm hands-off warning to any potential suitors for Irons’ stars.
The men in claret and blue are all set to embark on an exciting 2021/22 campaign having exceeded all expectations last season.
Having returned for a second spell with the club, Irons’ boss Moyes guided the Hammers to a 20-year high sixth-place finish in the Premier League and will be hoping to build on the success this term.
In order to do so, the east Londoners must retain their prized assets, including the likes of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek.
Speaking to talkSPORT, as cited on Twitter, the Scot was adamant any clubs interested in signing West Ham’s big names would be best served looking elsewhere.
We’ve got some players that we value at £100million and we won’t be selling them. That’s the way it is, you’re not going to get rid of your better players, you don’t do it. And if you are then it’s going to be for huge money. So from that point of view I think the clubs are right to do so. But I think there are an awful lot of other clubs that are probably not able to pay that money and look to those levels. We’re trying to improve. What we’re saying to ourselves, or I am certain, is I want to add to our squad if I can do so. I think I’ve got a good team but I need to add to it if I can but I want to do the right thing. We brought in Tomas Soucek, Vladimir Coufal, Jarrod Bowen in the last 12-18 months, all of them have been successful.
Moyes went on to say it would be ‘excellent’ if the club can bring in ‘another three that are successful’ this summer
READ WEST HAM VERDICT
This stern approach directly concerns Rice and Soucek as the hottest properties within the Hammers squad.
Rice holds a perceived market value of £63million (Transfermarkt) and has been subject to interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City.
European football this season may allow West Ham to fend off interest this summer, whether it be for £100million or otherwise.
Long-term keeping the 24-cap England ace may prove more difficult, however.
