Declan Rice responds to Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea links, teases transfer snub after West Ham win rare trophy
Declan Rice maintained a mysterious stance regarding his future at West Ham following his contribution to the team’s victory in the Europa Conference League.
In a tightly contested final in Prague, West Ham finally ended their 43-year drought for a significant trophy with a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina, thanks to a late winning goal from Jarrod Bowen.
After a goalless first half, Said Benrahma broke the deadlock for the Premier League side with a well-taken penalty in the second half. However, Fiorentina fought back, and Giacomo Bonaventura managed to equalize, setting up a tense finale.
As the match approached the prospect of extra time, Bowen capitalized on a brilliant pass from Lucas Paqueta and found the back of the net, securing a narrow but decisive win for West Ham.
In achieving this triumph, Declan Rice joined the esteemed company of West Ham icons Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds, who had previously led the club to glory in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965, as well as the FA Cup victories of 1975 and 1980.
While speculations surround Rice’s future, with several prominent clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City vying for his signature, he remained tight-lipped about his plans following the victory, giving no hints about whether it was his last game for West Ham or not.
“Look, at the moment there’s obviously a lot of speculation about my future,” the Hammers captain told BT Sport. “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.
“I’m captain of this club, I absolutely love it to pieces, I absolutely cannot speak highly enough of this place. Let’s see what happens.”
Asked if the Europa Conference League win could have been the perfect send-off, Rice replied: “Let’s wait and see, who knows.”
"I absolutely love this club… they've made me one of their own!" ❤️
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) June 7, 2023
"Mark Noble said he can't look at me because he'll start crying!" 😂
Declan Rice talks European glory, his love for West Ham and his future with @julesbreach, Joe Cole and @CarltonCole1!#UECLfinal pic.twitter.com/AmSGJYzAJ6
West Ham has reportedly come to terms with the fact that they will have to part ways with Declan Rice during the upcoming summer transfer window. The club understands his aspirations to join a team that competes for league titles and participates in the prestigious Champions League.
However, West Ham plans to leverage the significant interest in Rice, as he has attracted attention from several prominent European clubs. Their strategy involves using this interest to drive up his price, valuing the 24-year-old midfielder at approximately £100 million.
Declan Rice responds to Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea links, teases transfer snub after West Ham win rare trophy