West Ham boss David Moyes declares Arsenal target Declan Rice will blow Chelsea’s British transfer record fee for Enzo Fernandez ‘out of the water’ should midfielder depart London Stadium

David Moyes has warned potential suitors that they will have to stump up a British record transfer fee should they wish to sign Declan Rice.

The 24-year-old has been linked with a move away in the summer with the midfielder tied down in east London until 2024.

Arsenal are claimed to have made him their No1 priority with reports stating they are willing to offer the Hammers £80million.

And it has been said that the England international is favouring a move to the Emirates instead of a return to boyhood club Chelsea should he leave.

In another boost for the Gunners, Spanish media has stated that Real Madrid have ruled out a move for the player as he has ‘given his word’ to Arsenal that he will join them.

But Moyes has insisted that Arsenal will have to pay considerably higher than £80m if they wish to secure his services as he alluded to Enzo Fernandez’s transfer fee.

The World Cup winner linked up with Chelsea from Benfica earlier in the week for a British record £106.8m fee.

And Moyes has insisted that any sale for Rice will blow Fernandez’s record ‘out of the water’.

Speaking of Rice’s dazzling display after the 1-1 draw against Newcastle on Saturday, Moyes said: “I don’t know if I need to say the words, I think you can say the words if you watched it the way I saw it.

“I thought he was a top player in the first half, he really was, he showed so many things.

“Undoubtedly Declan is going to be a top player.

“And undoubtedly he’ll be a British transfer record and more whenever he leaves West Ham.”

When asked whether Rice’s departure from the London Stadium is inevitable, Moyes remarked: “I hope it’s not, I hope he sees his time here.

“But look, there’s a lot of talk about it and when you see what’s going about for the prices.

“I think Declan will be blowing that (British record) out of the water, that’s for sure, when it comes around.”

After being released by Chelsea as a 14-year-old in 2014, Rice joined West Ham‘s academy, where he made his debut in the 2016/17 season.

He has scored 11 goals in 221 games for the Hammers, while he has become a key player for England having been capped on 39 occasions.