Revealed: Declan Rice has played his ‘last West Ham league match’
Declan Rice has told friends he has played his last league match for West Ham, sources have told Football Insider.
It is believed that his plan is for the Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina next week (7 June) to be his Irons swansong as he closes in on a summer move.
Rice‘s representatives have been busy laying the groundwork for a box-office transfer to one of the Premier League’s elite clubs.
Despite interest from overseas, including from Bundesliga winners Bayern Munich, Rice wants to stay in the English top flight and preferably in London.
Arsenal are in pole position to land the midfielder, but there is competition from Chelsea and both Manchester clubs.
The England international, who was called up for Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia next month, will have just one year remaining on his West Ham contract in June.
Rice started 36 of a possible 38 Premier League games for the Irons in the 2022-23 campaign as David Moyes’ side finished 14th in the top flight.
The midfielder has also started seven of a possible 12 games in the Europa Conference League.
He took the West Ham captaincy from Mark Noble following the veteran’s retirement from football last summer (2022).
Football Insider revealed earlier this month (2 May) that the Irons are scouring the transfer market for a midfielder signing as they prepare for life after Rice.
This site also revealed (4 May) that West Ham are interested in signing Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Djibril Sow – with a fee of £30million likely to be accepted.
The Irons also have doubts over the future of Tomas Soucek, who has just over 12 months to run on his contract at London Stadium.
In other news, Arsenal’s first summer deal ready after agreement reached.