David Moyes admits for the first time that there is a ‘good chance’ Declan Rice will leave West Ham this summer…
- David Moyes has been questioned again about Declan Rice’s long-term future
- Rice’s contract expires in 2024 and West Ham can trigger a one-year extension
- The Scot admitted there is a ‘great chance’ West Ham will lose him this summer
David Moyes has admitted for the first time that there is a ‘good chance’ Declan Rice will leave West Ham this summer.
Hammers captain Rice has a price tag of around £100 million but is still linked with a departure.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United would all be interested in the English midfielder.
“We really hope he stays,” Moyes said. “We would like him to become a West Ham player, but we are aware that at the end of the season that may not be the case.
“So that’s one of the scenarios around planning. There are plans to have Dec here, but we’re also fully aware that there’s a good chance we won’t have him.’
David Moyes (right) knows there is a ‘great chance’ Declan Rice (left) will leave this summer
The West Ham captain agreed to stay last season but is now ambitious to try and play for titles
Rice, 24, agreed to stay for the season to help lead the team after Mark Noble’s retirement, but the club was unable to convince him to stay longer.
The England midfielder’s contract expires in 2024 and West Ham can initiate a one-year extension.
But sources have told Mail Sport that they will have to sell this summer as Rice is ready to leave to compete for the biggest trophies.
They will welcome offers and use that clause in negotiations saying his contract is valid until 2025.
Moyes has been unable to formulate plans for next season, while West Ham’s Premier League status remains unclear, although last week’s victory over Manchester United has left them all but safe.
“The schedule has been put on hold. It was always about making sure you are a Premier League club,” the Scot added. “Your planning goes all wrong if you weren’t.
Planning for next season is ‘on the back burner’ until survival in the Premier League is arranged
“A lot of it won’t fall into place until we realize we’ve kept our place in the Premier League. We watch a lot of players, a lot of matches, do a lot of scouting, but the truth is the focus was on staying in the Premier League.
West Ham head to Brentford on Sunday after Thursday night’s 2-1 win over AZ Alkmaar in the first leg of the Europa Conference League semi-final.
Moyes will make changes with the second leg in the Netherlands in mind, with Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio – who had a limp after the game against AZ – expected to be rested.
“We are still assessing a lot of players, we are less than 24 hours away from the game,” he said. “There are obvious bumps and bruises, but I hope Mikhail is not too bad.
“We’ll judge him, but he should be good for Sunday.”
