West Ham boss Moyes refuses to discuss Rice future

West Ham United boss David Moyes again straight-batted questions about the future of midfielder Declan Rice after his side’s 3-1 win over Leeds United at London Stadium.

Relegation-threatened Leeds took the lead through Rodrigo on 17 minutes, but Rice – named Hammer of the Year before kick-off – levelled with a volleyed finish at the far post.

And Moyes would not be drawn on the England midfielder’s likely move away this summer.

“Declan played very well today, but he’s been playing well all season. He scored a really good goal, he’s a very good footballer,” said Moyes.

West Ham, safe from the drop and with a Europa Conference League final to look forward to, should have been easy pickings for former boss Sam Allardyce and his Leeds side.

But the hosts went on to take the lead when Jarrod Bowen was played in by Danny Ings and steered his 12th goal of the season in off the far post, having just remained onside, before substitute Manuel Lanzini was given a tap-in in stoppage time thanks to Lucas Paqueta’s audacious assist.

“It’s a terrific win after the week we’ve had,” added Moyes, referring to their semi-final second-leg win over AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, which set up a June 7 final  meeting with Fiorentina in Prague. 

“You’re never quite sure after a Thursday game to Sunday, and from the opening 15 minutes I wasn’t sure.

“But they showed great character, and great mentality. It was a really good victory in the end.”

Allardyce insisted he had no regrets about taking the Leeds job despite the Whites looking destined for relegation from the Premier League.

The 68-year-old arrived at Elland Road as a last-ditch appointment with four games to go, but his first three matches have produced just one point.

They need to beat Tottenham next weekend and hope a Bournemouth side with nothing to play for can do them a favour at Everton.

If Leicester beat Newcastle on Monday night, the Whites will start the final day second from bottom, but Allardyce insisted he knows where the problems lie and, if given the chance, how to fix them.

“The challenge is to try to beat Tottenham and deliver a performance,” he said. 

“We’ll give ourselves a chance if we win and then see what happens. Our only hope is to win that game.

“If we don’t make it in the end it’s a case of trying to do your best for the club. I can only try my best and give the players the right instructions to show them how to win a game of football.

“Unfortunately for me and for them it hasn’t worked yet. It was always going to be a difficult task. Lots of people said I’m mad for taking it. I’m not mad. I just love football and Leeds United was too big a job to turn down for me, however short it was.

“The evidence is all there to know what’s wrong and what to put right. It doesn’t take long to work it out, does it, after 1,100 games as a manager. I sorted this club [West Ham] out, didn’t I? Still here, isn’t it? I’ve sorted a few others out.

“At the end of the season we’ll have that discussion. Hopefully in the Premier League, fingers crossed.”