DECLAN RICE admits he is the butt of the jokes in the West Ham dressing room after being valued at £150m.
The Hammers midfielder has been linked with a big-money move away after shining for club and country over the past few seasons.
Rice, 23, has two years left on his current deal – with an option to extend for a further year – but has the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United sniffing around.
Boss David Moyes revealed last month that any move for Rice in the coming windows won’t come cheap and claimed he is now worth “north of £150m”.
And ahead of West Ham’s clash with Arsenal, the England international said: “I can’t help speculation, even with the numbers that get spoken about.
“I get battered for it all the time on social media. [My teammates] wind me up all the time. It is crazy to speak about to be honest.
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“I kind of block it out and do what I do best which is play football.”
Rice has reportedly turned down several new contract offers as he eyes a change of scenery where he can play in the Champions League and compete for titles regularly.
Moyes believes West Ham can match his ambitions, and has even said he will copy Daniel Levy’s strategy with Harry Kane at Tottenham to keep his prized asset in east London.
Rice could be playing in the Champions League with West Ham – who are currently seventh – next season if they go on to win the Europa League later this month.
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And he added: “Playing well comes with speculation. I’ve had two or three top seasons with West Ham and top clubs around the country will always be watching.
“Not just the same for me, it’s the same for every player. I think it’s important not to get too carried away with all that.
“We have had a good season here with West Ham and there have been big games we have played in so my focus has always been on that.
“If I have always thought about other things I would get carried away and that wouldn’t be fair on the team or the manager.”
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