Declan Rice give coy statement on his future despite interest from Chelsea and other Premier League clubs
Declan Rice responded subtly when questioned about his future at West Ham United amidst interest from Chelsea and other European teams.
Rice won his first trophy with West Ham as the Hammers defeated Fiorentina 2-1 in the UEFA Europa Conference League final on June 7.
The 24-year-old midfielder has been linked with a move, and the Hammers are aware that he might depart the club in the summer transfer window. West Ham have estimated the former Chelsea academy graduate’s worth at almost £100 million.
While Rice is still available, Chelsea are up against competition from London rivals Arsenal, who may convince the midfielder to join them after they qualified for the Champions League.
Following the game against the Italian side, (h/t Metro) Rice was asked about his future, and the midfielder said:
“Look, at the moment, there’s obviously a lot of speculation about my future. Obviously there is interest from other clubs; that’s out there. But ultimately, I’ve still got two years left at West Ham, and I love this club. I love playing for this club. There hasn’t been anything yet, so my focus is playing for West Ham, enjoying tonight, and seeing what happens.”
It’s obvious he will not give a proper reply on his future soon. Right now, it only makes sense that he celebrates a long-awaited trophy with his teammates and fans. It would have been very unprofessional had he marred the celebrations by saying he will leave.
Numerous clubs are interested, so it will be difficult to sign him. He might also prefer playing in the Champions League since, as he previously stated that he wants to compete in a major European competition, which we cannot provide for the upcoming season. But his signing will undoubtedly aid the team in future Champions League qualification.
More Chelsea News:
- Chelsea to transfer-list Juventus target Christian Pulisic for the third window in a row
- Real Madrid have withdrawn from signing Chelsea star Kai Havertz
- Brighton Hove & Albion weighing offering another bid to sign Chelsea starlet Levi Colwill
Rice is more than simply a midfielder—at the age of 24, he serves as West Ham’s captain and adds personality and leadership to the team in addition to his playing abilities. His signing can provide steel and experience in a Chelsea team bloated with unproven youngsters.