Former West Ham United captain Mark Noble has said you can't blame Declan Rice for wanting to test himself in the UEFA Champions League.
The current Hammers skipper is wanted by a number of the Premier League's biggest clubs, with reports this week that the east London outfit rejected a £100million from Manchester United for Rice's signature.
With the England international's contract expiring in 2024, the club have an option to extend the deal until 2025, teams are on alert to further pursue Rice at the end of the season.
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And his comments at the 2022 World Cup last December has added fuel to the fire that Rice's future is away from West Ham, saying 'one hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League' and win trophies.
With David Moyes' side currently battling at the opposite end of table this season and teams in the top four eyeing a potential deal, the club's current sporting director has said you can't blame Rice for having ambitions of competing in Europe's top competition.
“It’s just the world we live in,” he told the Evening Standard. “We’re West Ham and these players want to go out and play Champions League football — and do you blame them?
“Dec is no different. Dec will always be hailed at West Ham as a fantastic player and such a top, top person. But I don’t think anyone begrudges him wanting to go and win things. We just hope he’ll keep performing like he has been over the last month or so.
“Wherever Declan ends up, or however much someone pays for him, whether it’s here or anywhere else, he’s worth every penny.
“He’s said openly he loves playing at West Ham, but he has got ambitions as a player to go and play in the Champions League and win trophies. I don’t think any West Han fan can actually have an agenda over that.
“Do you blame him for having really big ambitions? Of course you don’t. If he didn’t, he probably wouldn’t be as good as he is.”
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