West Ham United’s incoming sporting director Mark Noble has said that if a top club wants to sign Hammers captain Declan Rice, it will be out of the club’s hands.
Hammers skipper Rice, who succeeded Noble in the summer, has been heavily linked with an exit in recent seasons, with London rivals Chelsea among the clubs reportedly interested in signing Rice.
During the World Cup, comments made by Rice at a press conference suggested that he wants to be playing at the highest level, pointing towards a potential exit in the future, with little over 18 months left on his current deal at the London Stadium.
READ MORE: David Moyes sets ambitious West Ham target and speaks out on transfer window expectations
Speaking out Rice’s future amid the long-term speculation surrounding it, Noble admits that due to financial power of other teams in the Premier League, they will spend whatever it takes to sign Rice, if they want him, as seen in the summer of 2021 when Manchester City spent £100m to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa.
“Whether you think things will get dicey at West Ham – and I don’t believe they will – we just can’t cope financially with the top teams,” Noble told The Guardian .
“We can try our hardest to recruit the best players that the top five or six don’t buy – and we might get lucky with a few that slip through the net – but you can’t compete with these teams.
“They’re financially too powerful. If a top club wants Declan Rice they’re just going to pay for him, full stop. You’ve seen it with Jack Grealish, with the best players. If the top boys want them, we ain’t got a chance.”
Since making his debut in May 2017, Rice has made 218 senior appearances for West Ham in all competitions, scoring 11 goals.
Prior to joining West Ham, Rice was at Chelsea’s academy until the age of 14 and from there has been best friends with Blues midfielder Mason Mount, with the duo now playing for England together.
READ NEXT:
Maxwel Cornet, Nayef Aguerd, Gianluca Scamacca - West Ham injury latest ahead of Arsenal clash
The 20-year career record David Moyes will be desperate to overcome in West Ham’s Arsenal trip
Jarrod Bowen’s form, injury crisis, mixed pattern - West Ham’s mid-season friendlies assessed
West Ham U21s to face League Two side managed by former Hammers and Tottenham man in friendly
Pablo Fornals delivers honest West Ham verdict ahead of Premier League return in Arsenal clash
