According to West Ham United’s chairman David Sullivan on Thursday, captain Declan Rice will leave the club this summer. The announcement was made following the club’s first European title victory in 58 years.
“I think it has to be. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going. You can’t ask for a man who has committed more to us this season”, Sullivan told talkSPORT when asked if the match will be Declan Rice last for West Ham.
“In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement, or several replacements. It’s not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down.
“It’s cost him £10m to stay at West Ham in that time. And he wants to go. You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.”
The 24-year-old captaintook his side to the European titleas a last-minute Jarrod Bowen winner earned West Ham a 2-1 victory againstFiorentinain the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday.
According to sources, Arsenalwants to close a deal with Rice at the end of the season whileChelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, and Liverpool are monitoring developments. It was also reported that West Ham might demand £100 millionto let the midfielder leave the club.
For Rice, he said; “My focus is playing for West Ham at the moment. I’m captain of this club and I can’t speak highly enough of this place. Let’s just see what happens. Let’s wait and see. Who knows?”
West Ham scored a late winner through Jarrod Bowen to seal the history breaking victory, sparking frenzied celebrations inside the Fortuna Arena in Prague.
Fan From Crowd Throws Object At Cristiano Biraghi, Injures Him On The Head
However, the game saw some fan trouble despite the jubilation.
In the first-half, Fiorentina captain Cristiano Biraghi was hit by an object thrown from the stands as he was about to take a corner kick.
The object stuck him in the head, cauing him to bleed and require medical assistance.
“West Ham United unreservedly condemn the behaviour of a small number of individuals who threw objects onto the pitch during tonight’s UEFA Europa Conference League final,” the club said in a statement, per Reuters.
“These actions have no place in football and do not in any way represent the values of our football club and the overwhelming majority of our supporters, who have behaved impeccably in Prague this week and throughout our last two seasons in European competition.
“In line with our zero-tolerance approach, anyone identified will have their details passed to the police and will be given an indefinite ban and therefore be unable to enter London Stadium and travel with the club.”
