West Ham boss David Moyes insists they don't need Champions League football to keep their best players.
Moyes has taken his side from last season's relegation battle to the brink of Champions League qualification in under a year and insists he has created an environment where players can fulfil their potential.
The proud Scot bristled at the suggestion he needed to finish in the top four or risk losing the likes of Declan Rice, Tomas Soucek and Jesse Lingard, who has regained his England place since leaving Manchester for East London.
Moyes explained: "We were just avoiding relegation last year when we signed Tomas. We brought him in to help us avoid relegation. And Declan Rice was playing in that relegation team.
"And I'm also asked about keeping Jesse Lingard when we brought him to give him some games. So, to suddenly turn around and say we need to make the Champions League to keep them.
"Well, I think all those boys would be saying a massive thank you to West Ham for actually helping them get their careers back on track and putting them in the right direction.
"If we make the Champions League, I don't see that has to be the reason that we can keep them."
