West Ham chairman David Sullivan has made the surprising announcement that captain Declan Rice will be transferred during the upcoming summer transfer window. This revelation comes mere hours after the club celebrated their triumph in the Europa Conference League final, ending their long-standing trophy drought.
Declan Rice, the talented England midfielder, made history as only the third captain of West Ham to lift a major trophy following their 2-1 victory over Fiorentina. However, despite this momentous achievement, the club's chairman has decided to put Rice up for sale, potentially signaling a significant shift in the team's future dynamics.
Sullivan acknowledged, though, that they will let the 24-year-old, who has been heavily linked to a transfer to Arsenal, depart due to a gentleman's agreement.
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When asked if Rice's final act as a West Ham player was hoisting the trophy in Prague, Sullivan said to Talksport: "I think it has to be. We assured him he could leave.
“He set his heart on going and in due course he has to get on and we have to get a replacement.
“It is not something we wanted to happen. We offered him £200 000 a week 18 months ago and he turned it down. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.
“I think the offers will start to come today. Three or four clubs have shown interest but out of respect to West Ham, while we’re still playing, you don’t make offers for players.”
West Ham's victory in Prague put an end to their 43-year trophy drought.
“I’m still in shock,” Rice said in the afterglow of the win. “It’s incredible. I love this club, they’ve made me one of their own.
“There is interest from other clubs. Let’s wait and see. Who knows?”
