West Ham chairman reveals Declan Rice transfer promise

Various reports have tipped Declan Rice to leave West Ham this summer with interest from clubs like Arsenal, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich.

West Ham United chairman David Sullivan has announced that Declan Rice, the team’s captain, can leave the club this summer and he expects to receive bids for the midfielder immediately.

On Wednesday, Rice followed in the footsteps of Bobby Moore and Billy Bonds by becoming the third West Ham captain to lift a major trophy at the club, following the 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.

Despite the fact that Rice still has two years left on his contract, Sullivan has confirmed that a gentleman’s agreement means that he is permitted to leave.

“We promised him he could go. 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,” Sullivan told talkSPORT.

“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.”

Sullivan added: “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.”

Rice has also confirmed he is aware of interest from other clubs after the Europa Conference League final, but insisted he has not received any concrete offers.