David Moyes has issued an 11-word response after being asked if Chelsea target Declan Rice could leave West Ham in January.
Hammers skipper Rice caused a stir during the World Cup by using an England press conference to discuss his ambitions at club level.
That was nothing new to West Ham fans of course.
Rice, who has been incessantly linked with a move to boyhood club Chelsea, had already made it clear in several interviews and with his actions that he intends to leave to play for an elite club competing at that level.
The West Ham talisman and his father/agent Sean have thus far refused to sign a new contract after being offered in excess of £200k per week – a whopping £83m over the course of the proposed deal.
Rice has been heavily criticised by West Ham fans – and some pundits – for his comments in the England press conference.
As a result of his pronouncement to the world’s press, many supporters have given up any hope that remained that Rice might stay with West Ham.
There is absolutely nothing to guarantee Chelsea – long said to be Rice’s preference – will be Champions League regulars under their new owners.
But the Todd Bohely consortium are already showing they fully intend to try.
The rumours over Rice’s future are a completely unwelcome distraction for the Hammers, who have been sleepwalking into a potential relegation battle this term.
There have been some suggestions that such are West Ham’s Premier League survival concerns, the club might be forced to sell Rice in January to maximise on his value.
Chelsea are not the only club to have been linked of course but have always been deemed the most likely destination.
So both West Ham and Blues fans will be interested in what the Hammers manager has had to say on the rumours he could leave in the winter window.
Moyes issued an 11-word response when asked if Chelsea target Rice could leave West Ham in January.
“There will be no chance Declan Rice leaves in this window,” Moyes said in his pre-Brentford press conference (Football.London).
That should at least put any silly season talk to bed for the next month or so ahead of Rice’s expected sale in the summer.
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