West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has played down speculation linking him with Manchester United .
The England international is on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s radar as the United boss plots a summer overhaul at Old Trafford.
Rice is one of a number of young English targets after an excellent season with West Ham .
He signed a new contract last year to keep him at the club until 2024 and he has no plans to seek a move away.
“I know that there’s speculation but during the season last year I just signed a new five year contract with West Ham,” said Rice.
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
“So my focus is fully on playing for West Ham. I’ve got a great connection with the fans; the fans love me and I love them and that’s the way it is at the moment. I’m not thinking about anything else, for sure.
“It’s been crazy. For me to have thought that I’d be playing as a regular for West Ham in the Premier League at 19 or 20 is something that sometimes you’ve got to pinch yourself on.
“But it’s one you’ve got to take in you your stride as well – and that’s what I’m trying to do.”
(Image: Getty Images)
Rice is currently with the England squad ahead of their UEFA Nations League clash with Netherlands.
While he has no plans to leave West Ham, he admits he does aspire to play at the very top one day.
“When you start out in football you always want to play at the top,” he said.
“You want to play in the Champions League. If you were in football and you didn’t want to do that there’d be no point playing.”
