Transfer Centre

Declan Rice drops hint over West Ham United future

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 09 May 2021

Declan Rice drops hint over West Ham future

West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice reveals his dream to play Champions League football amid links with Chelsea and Manchester United.

West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice has affirmed that he wants to be competing in the Champions League at some point in his career.

The England international has been persistently linked with a move to either Manchester United or Chelsea, despite David Moyes's insistence that his midfield lynchpin is not for sale.

The Hammers are firmly in the mix for a European spot this year, but Rice has hinted that he could look to join a top-four club should West Ham's Champions League pursuit fall short.

Speaking to BBC's MOTDx, the 22-year-old said: "To have that Champions League music playing, that's where I want to be.

"It's special, I can't really describe it to be honest. As a kid it's your dream, first of all to play in the Premier League, but to be competing for the Champions League [as well].

"You know West Ham, people say (we're) a mid-table club and last three seasons we've been battling relegation. But this, what we're doing now, has always been there. It was just about when. We're on fire.

"We're on course to have West Ham's best ever season in the Premier League. That in itself is an achievement. There's a great chance that we are going to get some sort of European spot."

West Ham sit five points adrift of the top four before they take on Everton on Sunday afternoon, and Moyes is hopeful that Rice can return from a knee injury before the end of the season.