West Ham United have no intention of selling Declan Rice as the transfer window’s deadline day approaches, according to assistant manager Alan Irvine.
New faces have been in short supply this summer, with the Hammers supporters frustrated by the lack of transfer business the East London outfit have completed in recent months.
Another concern among the West Ham fans has been the incessant links between some of the Premier League’s top clubs and Rice.
The Hammers youth-team graduate has developed into a top-class central midfielder, representing England, captaining the team on occasion and becoming a critical player in the club’s ambitions of success.
However, with West Ham selling Grady Diangana to West Brom earlier this summer, there has been a fear that the club’s hierarchy could also cash-in on Rice.
When asked on the topic as the transfer window gets down to the final 48 hours, Irvine has reassured the Hammers faithful that the prospect of the England international leaving the London Stadium is not on the cards.
“We haven’t been looking to replace him,” FourFourTwo quote the West Ham chief as saying.
“We have been looking for players but we’ve not been looking for a replacement for Declan because we don’t have any intention of selling him.
“But, as you say, every player in the world has his price, it would certainly be an extremely difficult situation for us if anything was to happen.
“But without having all the information I still don’t think that will happen.”
West Ham are not blessed with lots of options in the centre of midfield, with Rice and club captain Mark Noble mainstays when fit and available.
Selling Rice would surely be the last straw for a frustrated supporter base, many of whom have completely lost patience with the club’s powerbrokers David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady.