David Sullivan, chairman of West Ham, confirmed Declan Rice will be allowed to leave this summer; Man City are eyeing Rice while Man Utd and Bayern Munich are also interested; The England international lifted the Europa Conference League trophy with the Hammers earlier this month
16:56, UK, Thursday, June 15, 2023
West Ham have rejected Arsenal’s opening offer for Declan Rice, believed to be worth £80m plus additional terms.
The Gunners’ opening offer will be delayed with lots of tough situations attached. West Ham value Rice still at £120m but it is conceivable the club would accept £100m plus a player.
Arsenal are expected to return with a new offer in the coming days, but they will have to significantly improve the value and bid structure if they want to sign the player. Manchester City are also keeping an eye on Rice’s situation.
West Ham chairman David Sullivan revealed following the club’s Europa Conference League win earlier this month that the 24-year-old will be allowed to leave this summer.
Manchester United and Bayern Munich are also interested in the England international, who became the third West Ham captain to lift the major trophy when they beat Fiorentina in Prague.
Rice has two years left on his contract but has asked if winning the Europa Conference League would be his last act for the club, says Sullivan talkSPORT: “I think it has to be. We promised him he could go.
As speculation over Declan Rice’s future grows, we take a look at his best Premier League moments for West Ham
“He was determined to carry on and of course he had to carry on and we had to find a replacement.
“It’s not something we wanted to happen. We offered him £200,000 a week 18 months ago and he turned it down. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.
“I think offers will start coming in. Three or four clubs have expressed interest but out of respect for West Ham, when we are still playing you don’t make offers to the clubs. player.”
‘My future depends on the people above’
Declan Rice said he was trying to appreciate the moment when West Ham showed off the Europa Conference League trophy in east London
Rice declared his love for West Ham after the victory in Prague but admitted he does not know if he will remain at the club next season.
“I still have two years,” Rice said Sky Sports News.
“There’s so much speculation – I see it all the time – but I can’t avoid it. It happens with playing football every day and doing what I do.
West Ham captain Declan Rice says he’s speechless after winning the ‘special’ Europa Conference League title against Fiorentina in Prague and admits he doesn’t know if he will remain at the club next season or not?
“My focus, since the World Cup, has been to win this trophy and help West Ham stay in the Premier League.”
He added: “I really don’t know what’s going on at the moment. That’s my honest answer.
“Reading by myself” [the speculation], it actually gets pretty boring. Who knows what will happen? It’s flattered to be wanted by so many clubs, but the badge on my chest is West Ham.
“I still have two years left on my contract and that ultimately depends on the people above.”
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