Declan Rice is expected to leave West Ham this summer with the club’s chairman confirming he would leave but the player has poured water on a possible exit when quizzed
Declan Rice insists he does not want to leave West Ham despite the club’s owner claiming he wants a move amid interest from Arsenal.
The Hammers midfielder helped the club claim a European trophy on Wednesday night as they saw off Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final. In the aftermath talk immediately turned to Rice’s future, with the expectation being that he will seek pastures new.
Rice has seen his stock rise at West Ham, but has turned down the offer of a new deal and the east Londoners need to cash in this summer. Several top sides throughout Europe are keen with the midfielder himself keen to play in the Champions League.
Hammers chairman David Sullivan appeared to signal Rice’s departure, citing a promise they made to the player, as he told TalkSPORT : “I think it has to be. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going. You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season. In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement – or several replacements.
“It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down. It’s cost him £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.”
Rice though has been quizzed by a young fan who captured the moment on video and posted it on his TikTok. He asked the midfielder where he would like to go, but the England star made no exit declaration and instead replied: “Nowhere, I’m West Ham.”
Pushed for an answer on where he would go if he had to leave West Ham, Rice insisted: “I don’t, West Ham is my one.”
The clip was posed on TikTok by Virajplays4, who claims it was filmed on Saturday.
Arsenal appear to be leading the race for Rice should he leave the London Stadium. They are readying for the departure of Granit Xhaka, which would leave a hole in midfield. The Gunners are also looking to bolster their ranks ahead of a return to the Champions League.
Chelsea, where Rice began as a youngster, have been cited as a possible destination for much of his career, but their midfield is heavily stocked with British-record signing Enzo Fernandez among the options available to new boss Mauricio Pochettino.
Manchester United added Casemiro and look to be pursuing other options. Manchester City could enter the race if they see the likes of Ilkay Gundogan move on whilst Bayern Munich too have been touted as a possibility should Rice want to leave the Premier League.
