West Ham slam record-transfer fee on Declan Rice amid Arsenal interest

Speaking after the draw at St James’ Park, West Ham boss David Moyes said: "He (Declan Rice) will be a British transfer record if he ever leaves West Ham.

"There’s a lot of talk about it and when you see what’s going about for the prices, I think Dec will be blowing that out of the water, that’s for sure, when it comes around."

The Hammers are increasingly resigned to losing the 24-year-old at the end of the season, with Arsenal having emerged as frontrunners to sign him.

Rice, who has only 18 months to run on his contract, has rejected several offers of a new deal and the club have privately accepted they will need to sell or risk missing out on a major windfall.

Arsenal have shown interest in the Englishman and may now have to break the £106.8m fee Chelsea paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez.