Manchester City are interested in signing West Ham star Declan Rice, according to the the Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper suggest City are considering entering the race to sign the England international, who has been strongly linked with Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Telegraph also say City are wary of being embroiled in another battle to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham, having tried unsuccessfully to capture the England captain last summer. A move for him this year therefore seems less likely.
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday that Rice has turned down a third contract offer from West Ham and is open to a move away this summer.
And Hammers boss David Moyes – while relaxed about Rice’s future – is aware that it could take a bigger offer to keep him in east London long-term.
“Maybe he just wants more money. People do turn down contracts, it’s not unusual for players at clubs to turn down contracts – maybe it’s a negotiation tactic,” Moyes said at his post-match press conference after Sunday’s defeat at Chelsea.
“I don’t know who put it out publicly because we certainly didn’t. So unless you’ve got who put it out or who said it, I couldn’t really answer it.
“We like Dec and we’ve still got three and a half years to go on his contract so I don’t think there’s any big panic.
“But we’ve said before that we’ve got no intention of selling.
“We’ve got him for three and a half years so it’s (a new contract) not the biggest priority. We’ve got other priorities like probably trying to add to the squad and get other positions in.”
