Declan Rice speaks on transfer speculation as Arsenal lead summer chase
Declan Rice has expressed his determination to ignore any distractions and rumors surrounding his future at West Ham. His sole focus is on guiding the club to success in Prague next month, where they will compete against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.
This upcoming final is a significant milestone for West Ham, marking their first major European final in almost five decades.
It is widely believed that the upcoming final in Prague will also mark Declan Rice’s final appearance for West Ham. He is expected to be sold during the summer transfer window, with Arsenal being the frontrunners in the pursuit of his signature.
Despite the continuous support from traveling West Ham fans, who expressed their desire for Rice to stay during their recent 2-1 defeat against Leicester, there is a general acknowledgement that he will move on. Earlier in the season, Rice publicly expressed his ambition to play in the UEFA Champions League, further fueling speculation about his departure.
When asked about whether winning in Prague would be the perfect way to end his West Ham tenure, Rice mentioned that he hasn’t really focused on such matters.
“My main focus this season, from the World Cup onwards, has been getting us out of a relegation battle and, of course, having one eye on winning this trophy.
“Everything else is just noise and speculation. Obviously, I can’t help that, it comes with playing. But my main focus is playing for West Ham and winning this final. My heart’s set on that, doing it for the club, for my family, for the fans and that’s my only focus. I want to make them all very happy and my focus is on doing that.”
Since their triumph in the 1980 FA Cup final against Arsenal, West Ham United has not secured a major trophy. It is worth noting the remarkable fact that only two individuals have ever captained the club to lift trophies: the iconic figures of Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds. Their leadership and achievements have left an indelible mark in the club’s history.
Declan Rice now has the chance to join an incredibly exclusive club of West Ham captains who have lifted trophies, alongside Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds. This presents a significant opportunity for Rice to etch his name in the club’s history.
Furthermore, West Ham, under the guidance of manager David Moyes, have the potential to transform what seemed like a potentially disastrous season into a historic one. Despite encountering challenges along the way, a successful outcome in the Europa Conference League final can reshape the narrative of their campaign and elevate it to a memorable and noteworthy achievement.
“I think all of us have dreamed about it, obviously with the journey we’ve been on,” Rice said. “We’re one game away from lifting something for West Ham, which would go down in history.
“I don’t think about those things too much because I’ve been in finals before and obviously lost, the highs and lows of the game are really minimal.
“But I think we’re all dreaming, the fans are all dreaming, and I think we have a right to but it’s down to us to get it done.”
In preparation for the Fiorentina match, David Moyes made six changes to the West Ham team for their trip to Leicester. Additionally, he utilized all five permitted substitutes during the second half, effectively managing the playing time of his squad. However, despite the squad rotation, Declan Rice continued to play the full 90 minutes.
Rice’s commitment and endurance are evident in his season’s statistics. At the age of 24, he has already participated in 58 matches for both club and country, including starting all five of England’s matches in the World Cup and missing only two of West Ham’s Premier League games. Despite this demanding workload, Rice maintains that he is still performing at his best and has not experienced any decline in his form or energy levels.
“I feel unbelievably fit,” he added. “I’m ready for anything in that final, whether it’s going to go 90 minutes or 120 minutes, I feel I’ll be able to play any minutes that are required.
“It’s been a long season with the World Cup, but the way I’ve kept myself off the pitch has probably been the key to being able to play so many games and keeping myself fresh. I want to play every game as well, I want to rack up as many appearances as possible and it’s been good to do that.”
Declan Rice speaks on transfer speculation as Arsenal lead summer chase