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DAVID MOYES wants to reunite England’s Euro 2020 midfield partnership of Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice at West Ham.
The Hammers are keen to sign an English midfielder this summer with Leeds’ Phillips and set-piece specialist James Ward-Prowse listed as targets.
Neither Phillips or Ward-Prowse are being considered as a replacement for Rice, with West Ham determined to hold onto the £150million man despite his refusal to sign a new £200k-a-week contract.
West Ham had a club record £50m bid for Leeds United’s Phillips rejected in the January window.
But the 26-year-old could be available at a cut price if the Elland Road club, currently 18th in the Premier League, drop to the Championship.
Manchester United and Aston Villa are also both interested in Phillips with Steven Gerrard having had his own bid for the Yorkshire Pirlo knocked back during the winter window.
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Moyes is also a big fan of Saints captain Ward-Prowse, 27, who is enjoying his best season in front of goal for the South Coast club after scoring ten times in all competitions.
Ward-Prowse, who must decide where he is best placed to make Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad after missing out on the Euros, could be tempted by the chance to play in Europe at the London Stadium.
But Southampton are in a strong position as Ward-Prowse signed a new five-year deal last summer after the club rejected a number of approaches from Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, West Ham are confident they are close to completing a deal for a central defender as planning for next season gears up.
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Moyes is working on a deal for Rennes centre-back Nayef Aguerd.
The Scot has had to battle a defensive crisis in recent weeks following injury to Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma and Issa Diop and is keen to bring in a left-sided defender - a profile Aguerd fits.