West Ham: Declan Rice 'playing for a move' at World Cup | OneFootball

West Ham United and England international Declan Rice will know he won’t be playing for David Moyes’ side at the London Stadium “beyond this season”, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The midfielder is currently in Qatar on World Cup duty with Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions squad.

West Ham transfer news – Declan Rice

According to The Guardian, Rice will have the pick of Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle United to choose from in the summer transfer window, with the midfielder having no intention of extending his contract at West Ham which runs out in 2024, which is reportedly worth £62k-per-week according to Salary Sport.

The same source suggests that the Irons will allow their captain to leave the club, but will demand a fee of at least £100m to see the academy graduate depart.

Jones has also told to GiveMeSport that Liverpool are now interested in a move for the Irons star, with The Telegraph suggesting he would cost £70m.

And the journalist believes that whilst Rice is focused on the here and now, he knows that he is essentially currently playing for a move elsewhere, which could be “at the back of his mind.”

What has Jones said about Rice?

Jones told GiveMeSport: “For Rice, he’s focusing on the here and now, he’s got England duty and he’s got a job to do with West Ham.

“But at the back of his mind, he is playing for a move of sorts. He’s not going to be a West Ham player beyond this season.

“In the back of his mind, he will be thinking about where the best fit for him is.”

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What next for Rice?

Despite growing transfer interest and an almost inevitable move away from West Ham on the cards in 2023, Rice’s immediate focus will be on helping England win their second World Cup title and first major tournament since 1966.

The 38-time international has played in 91% of available minutes at the tournament for Southgate’s side according to Transfermarkt, including the full game in England’s 3-0 last 16 victory over Senegal last weekend in their most recent success in Qatar.

A solid average Sofascore rating of 6.92 for his performances in the world’s biggest football competition has shown that he is capable of playing to a consistently solid standard when it matters, with the midfielder already helping the Three Lions to a Euro 2020 runners-up place almost 18 months ago.

Therefore, while the thought of a huge move to a Premier League giant could be playing on Rice’s mind, the midfielder’s current priority will be helping England earn a spot in a World Cup semi-final, with a tough game against reigning champions France to come on Saturday.