According to journalist Dean Jones, Declan Rice is not looking to force a move away from West Ham United this summer as he “loves the club”.
A key member of both the West Ham squad and the England setup, Rice has become one of the most sought-after players in English football.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for the defensive midfielder, but their delicate ownership situation has seen them fall out of the running for now, while Manchester United are also believed to be in pursuit.
Will Rice be at West Ham next season?
Yes
No
In an attempt to scare off any interested parties, West Ham are said to have slapped a £150m price tag on the 23-year-old. Rice has previously turned down a lucrative contract extension to remain at the London Stadium long-term, but according to Jones, he is not pushing for a departure.
Speaking to GiveMeSport, the insider said: “He is just fully focused on West Ham at the moment. Even the people around Declan Rice are refusing to talk one way or the other about a summer transfer because West Ham are doing so well.
“He doesn’t want to unsettle anything and he loves the club.”
TIF Thoughts on Rice’s West Ham future…
With each passing game, Rice’s stock rises higher and higher. He has already made 183 appearances for the Irons, 159 of which have come in the Premier League, and this campaign, he has even displayed attacking threat, notching a career-high four goals in all competitions.
His main success thus far has arguably come with the Three Lions, though, with the former Chelsea youth product featuring in every game as Gareth Southgate’s side reached the final of Euro 2020.
Rice has two years left on his current contract, with the option to extend for another 12 months. Right now, he is as valuable as he is ever going to be to West Ham, and that may impact the club’s decision-making.
It is refreshing to hear Rice is not pushing for a move away. He appears to genuinely enjoy playing for West Ham, and he will no doubt be grateful to them after they gave him a chance when Chelsea let him go as a 14-year-old.
However, Rice will be aware there is a limit to what he can achieve at the London Stadium, and only a move to a top Premier League or European side will allow him to compete for major honours on a regular basis. Although Hammers fans will not want to hear it, it is surely only a matter of time before he moves on to pastures new.