Declan Rice drops Arsenal transfer hint in chat with Ian Wright after Man Utd masterclass

West Ham star Declan Rice only strengthened links with a summer move to Arsenal with his impressive display in his side's 1-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday - and may have dropped a transfer hint post-match.

Rice earned the player of the match award for his display during the victory, which will likely seal the Hammers' Premier League survival. They are seven points ahead of 18th-placed Nottingham Forest with three games to play, although Forest do have a game in hand.

The 24-year-old club captain can now look ahead to the Europa Conference League semi-final, in which David Moyes' side take on AZ Alkmaar.

And, speaking to BT Sport after the match, Rice summed up the current situation: "As players you can't help to look around you. To win this one was big, to give ourselves a gap between ourselves and the bottom.

"Mathematically, you still need 40. We've got our semi-final Thursday and then we go to Brentford, so we want to finish on a high."

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will no doubt have been impressed at Rice's display against United, with the Daily Mail claiming that the midfielder is still the club's priority target in midfield this summer.

And speaking to Premier League Productions, Rice may have dropped another small hint that a move could be on.

Rice speaks amid Arsenal links

As he completed his media duties, speaking to the presenter and pundits Alan Shearer and Ian Wright, the latter couldn't help but express his feelings on the midfielder before Rice's camera was cut off.

Wright shouted: "I love you Declan! I love him. I love him so much!"

Rice then replied, with a smile: "I love you too, Wrighty. See you later mate."

The current West Ham captain and Arsenal legend have previously filmed segments together for the Premier League - with some connected with the club hoping that their friendship will help to convince Rice to make the move to the Emirates Stadium.

That comes off the back of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard publicly stating that he hoped to speak to Jude Bellingham to convince him to make the move to Anfield.

And although the 19-year-old is reportedly close to joining Real Madrid instead, Rice's friendship with Wright - as well as current Arsenal players - could play a role in ensuring that he is playing his football in north London next term.