David Sullivan speaks out on Declan Rice with West Ham United braced for Thursday bids amid £120m news
David Sullivan has confirmed Declan Rice played his final game for West Ham United in their Europa Conference League victory over Fiorentina on Wednesday night.
Rice, 24, played a major role in the Irons winning 2-1 at the Eden Arena to secure their first major trophy since 1980.
However, the England international’s time at the London Stadium has regularly seen him linked with a move away and as his contract expires next year, many expect him to finally be sold this summer.
West Ham’s co-chairman Sullivan has suggested that this is now the case after the midfielder turned down a £200,000-a-week deal a year and a half ago.
“I think it has to be,” Sullivan told talkSPORT when asked if Rice made his last Hammers appearance in Prague.
“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.
“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 £10million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go.
“You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.”
Legend
Rice is leaving West Ham at the age of 24 but that doesn’t mean he’s not going to be classed as an Irons legend.
The midfield star not only helped England reach their first major final since 1966 a couple of years ago but the impact he’s had at West Ham has been massive.
As per talkSPORT, the Hammers want £120million for their star man with Sullivan now expecting fresh offers for the club’s captain on Thursday (8 June).
He added: “I think the offers will start to come today.
“There are three or four clubs who have shown interest, but out of respect to West Ham, while we’re still playing, you don’t make offers for players.
“That’s not the way decent clubs do things.”
If the offers do come in and they’re acceptable, it’s unlikely that West Ham will stand in the way of a club hero.
It’s unlikely we’ll get £120million for Rice unless someone decides to do something ridiculous this summer but we should definitely expect something in the region of £100million.
He’s an English, European title-winning, young, exciting midfielder.
He’ll be worth every penny to whoever stumps up the cash.