DECLAN RICE has missed out on £10MILLION in wages after rejecting West Ham’s contract offer 18 months ago.
Hammers owner David Sullivan revealed on Thursday that the club’s Europa Conference League triumph was Rice’s final game for the East London outfit as he prepares to depart in the summer.
The England international, 24, has come through West Ham’s youth set-up but is now the subject of interest from Europe’s top clubs including Arsenal, Manchester United and Bayern Munich.
Yet despite his imminent departure, captain Rice has been praised for showing loyalty to his boyhood club.
And that trait was illustrated by him declining a £200,000-a-week contract 18 months ago – only for him to give his all while being paid wages well below his market value – thought to be around £60,000-a-week.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Sullivan said: “I think it has to be [his last game]. We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going.
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“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.
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“You can’t keep a player who doesn’t want to be there.”
Rice’s contract runs out at the end of next season.
West Ham are understood to value the midfielder at around £100million.
Arsenal have been heavily linked with a move for Rice and the Gunners are reportedly the midfielder’s preferred destination.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
