Joe Cole on Declan Rice's future at West Ham amid links with Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd - 'Every club will want him'
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Updated 10/02/2023 at 15:50 GMT
Former West Ham and Chelsea star Joe Cole says “every club in Europe” will want Declan Rice. Rice’s contract at West Ham expires in the summer of 2024, so he is likely to be a major talking point after the end of this season if the Hammers are willing to sell their captain. Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have already been linked to signing Rice.
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BT sport pundit Joe Cole says Declan Rice might feel frustrated when speaking to his England team-mates as speculation continues about the West Ham captain’s future.
Rice’s contract at the Hammers expires at the end of June 2024, so is likely to be a big talking point in this year’s summer transfer window.
David Moyes has previously stated any move for Rice to leave West Ham would "blow the British transfer record fee out of the water".
In 2003, Cole left West Ham for Chelsea so understands how Rice might be feeling.
"I've been in Rice's shoes," Cole told BT Sport.com. "You're fighting, you're fighting and you're fighting for your club and you want to win trophies and then you speak to your mates in the England squad and it can be frustrating.
"I'm sure Declan would love West Ham to be challenging for the Champions League places and for there to be a new plan with a new owner, but he's got a decision to make at the end of the season."
Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all been linked with Rice over the last month.
The 24-year-old played for the Blues’ academy before joining the West Ham youth set-up and Cole isn’t surprised by the interest.
"Every club in Europe will be looking at Declan because of what he brings to the team," he said.
"The only club I’d probably rule out is maybe Real Madrid because of [Toni] Kroos, [Luka] Modric, [Federico] Valverde, [Aurelien] Tchouameni and [Eduardo] Camavinga. But every other club needs a midfielder and Rice is as good as anyone."
Rice reportedly rejected multiple contract extension offers with West Ham in 2022 as he ponders his future.
A price tag of £100m for the England international has been mentioned in the past and Cole is confident Rice will not let any negotiations affect his football.
"He's a great character so he will always fight for his team," he added. "He loves West Ham but the clock is ticking on his career and he wants to play at the highest level and to compete for trophies.
"But he's a committed, passionate lad who will be fighting tooth-and-nail for West Ham until the summer when he'll sit down with his representatives, his family and the club and try to come to a solution that's suitable for everyone."
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