David Moyes has admitted that there is a “good chance” that Declan Rice could leave West Ham United this summer.
The Hammers skipper has been strongly linked with a move away from the London Stadium, with the 24-year-old understood to be attracting interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, among others.
It has been reported that West Ham could consider selling Rice if an offer in excess of £100million comes in for the England international, with the Hammers braced for interest and potential bids for their captain this summer.
And now, Moyes has opened up on the possibility of Rice leaving the club in the summer transfer window, with the West Ham boss adding that while he wants the midfielder to remain at the club, it cannot be ruled out that he could depart.
David Moyes said: “We honestly hope Dec stays. We’d love him to be a West Ham player but we are aware that might not be the case at the end of the season. So that’s one of the scenarios around planning. There are plans that we have Dec here, but we’re also fully aware there is a good chance that we don’t have him.”
Meanwhile, Moyes has said that it is difficult to plan too far ahead in the summer when it comes to transfer plans, with West Ham’s safety in the Premier League still not assured.
The Hammers are well placed to stay in the top flight, with a seven-point gap to the bottom three, while they know that one win in their last three games would guarantee survival. And Moyes says that the sooner safety can be secured, the better it will be for the club as he outlined what West Ham are likely to be looking to do this summer.
David Moyes said: “For the most part of the planning is put on the back burner until you have kept your Premier League status. The truth is the only focus has been on staying in the Premier League. We have brought in a big number of players last summer so I see [this summer] more as tinkering and bits and pieces being done here and there. I see a change here or there and an addition or two.”
