Declan Rice to leave West Ham according to chairman David Sullivan amid Bayern Munich and Arsenal links
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Updated 08/06/2023 at 10:54 GMT
One of football's worst-kept secrets has been confirmed, with West Ham United chairman David Sullivan admitting that Declan Rice looks set to leave the club this summer. Speaking in an interview with talkSPORT, Sullivan says that Wednesday night's Europa Conference League win over Fiorentina is more than likely to be Rice's final match for the club.
West Ham's Rice on 'boring' transfer speculation
Declan Rice will almost certainly be leaving West Ham this summer, according to chairman David Sullivan.
The England midfielder led the Hammers to their first major trophy in 43 years after a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final, which looks set to be his last game in a Hammers shirt.
And when asked if Rice had played his last match for the club, Sullivan 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 £10m 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."
Arsenal and Bayern Munich are both interested in signing Rice this summer, and the 24-year-old was coy when quizzed about his future after the match.
"At the moment there's a lot of speculation going on about my future,” Rice told BT Sport.
“There is interest from other clubs but ultimately I still have two years left at West Ham.
“I love this club, I love playing for this club. There hasn't been nothing yet. My focus is playing for West Ham at the moment.
“I'm captain of this club and I can't speak highly enough of this place. Let's just see what happens. Let's wait and see. Who knows."
Rice now stands alongside Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds as one of only three captains to lead the Hammers to major silverware.
In total, Rice has made 245 appearances for West Ham and scored 13 goals.
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