Declan Rice has acknowledged the interest from other clubs in his services following West Ham United’s Europa Conference League triumph. The 24-year-old midfielder captained the Hammers to a historic 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the final, securing the club’s first European trophy in 58 years.
Rice has been a key figure for David Moyes’s side, featuring in 50 matches across all competitions this season and establishing himself as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders. As a result, he has attracted attention from several top European clubs ahead of the upcoming 2023-24 campaign.
Arsenal, under the management of Mikel Arteta, are reportedly leading the race for Rice’s signature and have allegedly agreed on personal terms with the player for a summer move to the Emirates Stadium. However, Manchester United, managed by Erik ten Hag, are also considered serious contenders and are looking to strengthen their midfield options.
Bayern Munich, led by Thomas Tuchel, have identified Declan Rice as a top target, while Manchester City has also been credited with an interest in the £100 million-rated West Ham player.
After lifting the Europa Conference League trophy and hearing the West Ham supporters chanting for him to stay for another year, Rice addressed the speculation surrounding his future. He emphasized that he still has two years remaining on his West Ham contract and expressed his love for the club and his enjoyment of playing for them. While acknowledging the interest from other clubs, Rice stated that talks of an exit have not taken place yet, and his focus is on playing for West Ham.
West Ham manager David Moyes had previously indicated that there is a “good chance” Rice will leave the club this summer in pursuit of Champions League football. Rice has made 245 appearances for West Ham since his professional debut in 2017 and has been voted Hammer of the Year in three of the last four seasons.
With West Ham’s European campaign concluded, Arsenal is expected to intensify their pursuit of Rice and make the first move for the English midfielder. The transfer saga surrounding Rice’s future is likely to unfold in the coming weeks.
