MOYES: TOP STARS TO COST FORTUNE

Smith is on the brink of a remarkable survival act at Aston Villa. His side hauled themselves out of the drop zone on Tuesday for the first time since February with a 1-0 home win over Arsenal. And with seven points from their last three games, 17th-placed Villa’s fate is now in their own hands at West Ham.

It is an incredible turnaround after a 3-0 home battering by Manchester United earlier this month extended their winless run to 10 games.

But Smith (left) says he never lost faith in his side, who then beat Crystal Palace, drew at Everton and stunned FA Cup finalists Arsenal. And now he is determined to keep the club he supported as a boy in the Premier League. Ex-Walsall and Brentford boss Smith, 49, said: “After the Manchester United match everyone thought we were relegated and were speaking about a Championship season.

DAVID MOYES has warned the Premier League’s big guns hoping to plunder West Ham’s prize assets that they will not be sold on the cheap.

Chelsea and Manchester United remain big admirers of £70million-rated Declan Rice.

But boss Moyes (above) warned: “The big clubs may see this as a chance, as though the sales are on at Christmas time because there’s a chance they might get a big thing or there’s lots of bargains.

“Maybe they see it as a time to strike with their strength in the spending.

“But I still think the prices will be expensive for the best players.”

Moyes is working on recruitment plans of his own after pulling the club clear of the drop zone wreckage for a second time.

“I’ve always thought that West Ham could do with getting something stable, whether I am the manager or somebody else,” he said, ahead of tomorrow’s season finale at home to Aston Villa.

Spanish keeper Roberto, 34, is a target for Spanish club Alaves.