'A good chance' Arsenal target Declan Rice will leave this summer, says David Moyes
David Moyes has admitted for the first time that there is a “good chance” that Arsenal target Declan Rice will leave West Ham United this summer.
Moyes said the club is planning various scenarios for the summer transfer and conceded that they are “fully aware” of the possibility of Rice departing the London Stadium.
Rice is understood to be Arsenal’s top target but Mikel Arteta’s side are expected to face competition from other members of the Premier League’s so-called ‘Big Six’.
“We honestly hope he stays,” said Moyes. “We would love for him to be a West Ham player but we are aware that might not be the case at the end of the season.
“So that’s one of the scenarios around planning. There are plans that we have Dec here but we’re also fully aware there is a good chance we won’t have him.”
As reported by Telegraph Sport this week, West Ham will benchmark the transfer fee that is paid for Jude Bellingham when it comes to negotiating the sale of Rice.
The club are determined to drive as high a price as possible, although it remains to be seen whether a bidding war will unfold in the race for the England international.
Meanwhile, a group of AZ Alkmaar supporters, including family members of manager Pascal Jansen, had to be moved from their seats at the London Stadium due to safety concerns after they clashed with West Ham fans in Thursday’s Europa Conference League semi-final.
@FBAwayDays @AZAlkmaar fans on the way to @WestHam pic.twitter.com/HJ1cOBvUOk
— Joe Gleeson (@Gleesjoe) May 11, 2023
The Dutch supporters, who were sitting behind the dugouts at the London Stadium, are understood to have provoked the ire of nearby home fans after they had celebrated AZ’s opening goal in their team’s 2-1 loss.
Jansen’s partner and two children were among the group who had to be moved, as were family members of the players and general manager Robert Eenhoorn, according to reports in the Dutch media.
There is no suggestion that there was any physical confrontation between the rival supporters, with West Ham’s stewards acting quickly to find an alternative location in the ground for the visiting fans.
Eenhorn told De Telegraaf that he was “concerned for the safety of our people” and added that he felt they were near “the most dangerous supporters of West Ham”.
Speaking after the match, Jansen said of his family members: “I understand that they are fine. Don’t make a fuss of it. It happened. They weren’t happy. They were taken care of. We got on with the game.”
Quoted by De Telegraaf, Jansen added: “My children and girlfriend were in the business. I just spoke to them, but everything is fine now. There was some consternation after our goal. They were shocked, but they are now safe and in good condition on the bus.”
West Ham fought back in the second half of Thursday’s match, with Said Benrahma and Michail Antonio giving them a narrow lead ahead of the second leg in the Netherlands next week. The winner will face either Fiorentina or Basel in the final in Prague next month.
