Declan Rice insists that he cannot help the transfer speculation swirling around him but says he isn’t going to get carried away.
The England international has been heavily linked with a potential move away from the Hammers in the coming transfer window. 
There haven’t been any bids for the midfielder, and we understand there is an agreement in place between the Irons and Rice over his future.
He is set to stay at the club this summer and could then potentially move on next summer if an acceptable bid is tabled.
The likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City are continually linked but Declan insists he is keeping his feet on the ground ahead of the season’s run-in.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the midfielder said: “I feel like playing well comes with speculation. I’ve had two or three top seasons with West Ham and the top clubs around the country are always going to be watching. It’s not just me, it’s the same for every player.
“I think it’s important not to get too carried away with that. We’ve had a good season with West Ham and there have been big games I’ve had to play in so I feel like my focus has always been on that. If I thought about other things, I’d get carried away and that wouldn’t be fair on the team or the manager.
“I can’t help speculation, even with the numbers that get talked about. I get battered for it all the time on social media, but I can’t help that. I can help by going on the pitch and performing as best as I can.
“They [West Ham team-mates] wind me up all the time. It’s crazy to speak about to be honest, so I just kind of block it out and do what I do best and that’s play football.”
Rice came third in the FWA Footballer of the Year awards, only behind Liverpool’s Mo Salah and City’s Kevin De Bruyne, and he is humbled by finishing so high in the voting.
He added: “It’s not bad. I would like to have won it, but obviously up against Salah and De Bruyne it’s hard to say, because I can never imagine putting my name with those types of players.
“To come third, it shows that people have appreciated what I’ve done on the football pitch. This season, I feel like I’ve taken another step in the right direction in my career, but I’m still only 23 and trust me, I know myself and I’ve got so much more that I can let out of the bag.
“I know that, my coaches tell me that and I think it just comes with time and as I get older, it’ll keep coming and coming. I feel like you’re only seeing the start of me. I’m going to keep pushing and getting better.”
