Man Utd and Chelsea transfer target Declan Rice makes a significant indication about his future

Declan Rice has given another strong indication that his time at West Ham is drawing to a close amid intense speculation surrounding his long-term future.

The Hammers stalwart has already established a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most influential midfielders and has been strongly linked with both Manchester United and Chelsea in the past.

Rice, an integral part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, has been valued in excess of £100million by his current club and they remain in a relatively strong bargaining position with two-and-a-half years left to run on his current deal.

After two seasons of steady progress under David Moyes, however, West Ham have endured a mediocre start to the current campaign and doubts persist as to whether the east London club can match Rice’s ambitions.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s last 16 tie against Senegal, Rice said: ‘I’ve been playing consistently well for the club and I want to keep pushing.

‘Like you said I see my friends here who are playing Champions League football, winning the trophies. You only get one career and at the end of your career you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.

‘I’m really ambitious and I really want to do that.’

Rice, meanwhile, is certain to retain his place on Sunday but Gareth Southgate has problems further forward after Phil Foden and Marcus Rashford, both handed their first starts of the tournament against Wales, took their chances by scoring the goals that ensure England progressed as Group B winner.

Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling now face an anxious wait to see if they will be recalled and Rice admits his manager has a severe selection headache.

What is so good about our group here is we are all so supportive of each other,” said West Ham skipper Rice.

‘There is probably a selection headache for the manager but whoever he picks, I know everyone will be rooting for each other. It is a real team effort now.’

Given two of the quartet are likely to be on the bench at Al Bayt Stadium on Sunday night, Rice believes England have one of the most competitive squads in the finals.

‘I think it is top level,’ he said. ‘It is always nice to know you can bring players off the bench who can instantly change a game, we have got world-class players who can come on and throughout a World Cup you need that quality.’

Southgate had come in for flak earlier in the year after England were relegated from the Nations League having failed to record a win against Italy, Hungary or Germany.

‘The Nations League was tough in the summer,’ added Rice. ‘We came in having not won in six and there was lots of pressure on the Iran game but we dealt with that.

‘We are building really well, we are in a really nice position and as the step up in quality starts to arrive we will be ready.’

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