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Borussia Dortmund are expressing an interest in signing West Ham starlet Declan Rice, according to The Sun.

What's the word?

West Ham have struggled for form this season, losing five of their opening eight matches, and also face a stern fight behind the scenes to retain the services of Declan Rice amidst a lengthy contract saga with the teenager.

The Hammers are desperate to retain the services of the 19-year-old but he has so far rejected the contract extensions offered by West Ham, which The Sun says has led Borussia Dortmund to express an interest in the starlet.

Dortmund's interest in Rice follows the impressive form shown by Jadon Sancho after he quit Manchester City to move to the Bundesliga last year, while Reiss Nelson has also impressed on loan with Hoffenheim from Arsenal.

A Hammer blow?

While Dortmund's interest in Rice will grab headlines, it should not change West Ham's stance at all as they continue to push for the teenager to pen a new deal - although the interest of the German giants strengthens the defensive midfielder's bargaining position.

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The teenager has featured five times in the league for Manuel Pellegrini's side this term, with his versatility proving to be an extremely useful asset, and the threat of losing the 19-year-old academy graduate is a major concern for the Hammers as he has proven his worth over the course of the past 18 months.

Tottenham Hotspur reportedly rejected the chance to sign Sancho before his move to Dortmund, and West Ham can't afford to make the same mistake that their arch-rivals did by letting Rice go the same way.