New hope for West Ham? Declan Rice filmed telling young fan he’s going ‘nowhere’ as Arsenal, Man United and Bayern Munich fight it out for the £90m midfielder
West Ham star Declan Rice has been filmed telling a young fan he is going ‘nowhere’ amid speculation the midfielder will leave this summer.
Rice, 24, has just captained the Hammers to success in the Europa Conference League, but is about to enter the final year of his contract and is expected to depart.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich have been linked with the £90million-rated England international.
But in a viral social media clip, Rice was quizzed by a young fan on his next move.
Asked which club he is going to join, Rice replied: ‘Nowhere, I’m West Ham.’
Declan Rice was filmed telling a young fan he’s going ‘nowhere’ this summer with the West Ham and England star linked with a £90m move to Arsenal, Man United or Bayern Munich
Declan Rice has been told by West Ham that he will be allowed to leave the club in summer
Asked to pick a side to join, he said: ‘Nah, I don’t, West Ham’s my one.’
The video clip was apparently filmed on Saturday.
In the wake of West Ham’s 2-1 win over Fiorentina in Prague to lift their first European trophy since 1965, club chairman David Sullivan confirmed Rice could leave.
It came after Mail Sport revealed Arsenal want to swiftly wrap up a £90m deal amid competition from United and German champions Bayern.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Sullivan said: ‘I think it has to be [his last game for the club]. 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.’
David Sullivan (right) revealed that Rice had turned down a new deal at the London Stadium just 18 months ago and said the midfielder would be allowed to leave
Rice and club legend Mark Noble (left) stand with the Europa Conference League trophy after West Ham’s 2-1 Europa Conference League win over Fiorentina on Wednesday
Arsenal have been leading the chase for Rice’s signature and it is thought he prefers to stay in England rather than move abroad.
‘I think the offers will start to come today,’ Sullivan added. ‘There are three or four clubs who have shown interest, but out of respect to West Ham, while we’re still playing, you don’t make offers for players.
‘That’s not the way decent clubs do things.’
Rice had also declined to talk about his potential summer move immediately after the final.
‘It’s flattering to be wanted by a lot of clubs but the badge on my chest tonight is West Ham,’ said Rice.
‘I’ve got two years left on my contract and ultimately it’s up to the people above. Until the day I walk out of this club I’ll give absolutely everything and I’ll wear my heart on my sleeve for this badge.’
