Declan Rice needs more time to decide whether to switch allegiance from Republic of Ireland to England, according to West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini.
An international tug-of-war has developed for Rice's services with reports claiming he is set to turn his back on Martin O'Neill's team.
The versatile 19-year-old debuted for Republic of Ireland earlier this year, but each of his three caps have come in friendlies and a switch of allegiance remains possible.
Pellegrini insisted the London-born teenager was still mulling over his options and urged against pressuring him into a hasty choice.
"I am always talking with all the players and with Declan also," the Hammers boss told a news conference.