Declan Rice committed to West Ham amid Man Utd transfer links

Getty Images
Giuseppe Muro5 September 2019

Declan Rice has outlined his commitment to West Ham and said he can see himself staying at the club as long as Mark Noble has done.

It has been claimed Rice opened the door to a move to Manchester United in a recent magazine interview, but the midfielder has not considered leaving West Ham.

Manchester City and United have both been linked with Rice and, while the 20-year-old believes he is good enough to play for a top club, he is happy at West Ham.

Rice signed a five-year contract last December and has reiterated his dedication to West Ham by saying he can see himself staying at the club as long as captain Noble, who has just marked 15 years since his Hammers debut.

“Yeah, for sure,” said Rice. “If you look at the contract I’ve got now, it’s until 2022, so that’s still ages away. I’m looking forward to playing this season and the season beyond, and we’ll see where it goes.

PA

“I’ve still got so much to learn. I love it at West Ham - the connection between me and the fans is special, I’ve grown to be one of the fan favourites and the manager loves me. This is the best place for me to play my football.”

Asked if he would like to become a West Ham legend one day, Rice said in an interview with FourFourTwo magazine: “Yeah. To be a West Ham legend, to maybe be put up there as one of them in the future, that would be a real honour.”

Rice is currently with the England squad ahead of their Euro 2020 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Kosovo.

Getty Images

He has also paid tribute to West Ham captain Noble for the role he has had in helping his development since breaking through at the London Stadium.

Rice said: “I can’t thank Nobes enough for what he’s done for me.

West Ham United FC via Getty Ima

“He’s always on the phone to me away from training - sometimes we go for meals together, and we’ll go into his lounge at West Ham and chill.

"He’ll speak to my dad at the games, too.

“We get on really well, we’re similar personalities and he gives me little pointers on how to get better.

"He’s been at West Ham for 15 years and when someone like that speaks to you, you’ve got to take it all board, because he’s been through what I’m going through.”