"He wants to..." - David Moyes makes Declan Rice transfer admission amid Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelsea links

West Ham manager David Moyes has admitted club captain Declan Rice is desperate to play Champions League football and wants to play in the "big games".

Rice has continued to impress for both West Ham and England throughout 2022 and is being linked with several top clubs, including Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

The 23-year-old is under contract with West Ham until the summer of 2024, with the club holding an option to extend his stay by a further year.

But it looks increasingly likely that the midfielder, who performed well for England at the World Cup in Qatar, will leave either in January or the summer transfer window.

Moyes: We'll fight for Rice

Moyes is understandably keen to keep hold of Rice and slapped a huge £150m price tag on him earlier this season.

But the West Ham boss admits the club will struggle to keep hold of the midfielder if they are able to make the step up to Champions League football soon.

"He wants to win and play for a really good side which is going to give him the opportunity to do so," Moyes told The Times.

"We hope that we can reach the Champions League. It is looking difficult at this time.

"But we're 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 he wants to play in the big games and be a top player. I don't think you're ever going to hold anybody back from having those ambitions.

"He played as well as anybody and he was exceptional at the World Cup. For a young player he really takes on responsibility.

"You think about how he is going to be in another four or five years, how he will mature and improve as a player and a leader.

"All those things are all to come and it's all ahead of him."

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Topics: West Ham United, Declan Rice, Football, Transfers, Premier League, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool

Rory O'Callaghan

Rory O'Callaghan is Editorial Lead at SPORTbible. He has previously worked for Sky Sports News, MailOnline and Reach covering football, cricket, boxing and MMA. Tested daily as a Liverpool fan in a Manchester office.

@rory_ocallaghan