DAVID MOYES admitted for the first time that there is a “good chance” Declan Rice will leave West Ham this summer.
Arsenal are favourites to snap up the Hammers skipper, 24, while Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City are also in the hunt.
Rice, whose deal expires in June 2024 with a club option to extend by a further year, has turned down several contract extensions over the past 18 months.
And boss Moyes said: “We would love Declan to be a West Ham player but we are aware that may not be the case come the end of the season.
“That is one of the scenarios when it comes to planning.
“There are plans that we have Dec here but we are fully aware that there is a good chance we won’t have him.”
Rice has missed just one game for West Ham in the Premier League this season.
Illness ruled him out of the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City earlier this month, but he has played all 90 minutes in the Hammers’ other 34 league games this term.
West Ham have struggled in the Prem but will secure safety on Sunday if they win at Brentford.
There also remains the chance of qualifying for Europe for a third straight season should they go on to win the Europa Conference League next month.
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The Hammers take a slender 2-1 lead into next week’s second leg against Dutch outfit AZ Alkmaar.
A Said Benrahma penalty and instinctive Michail Antonio finish secured a comeback win in Thursday’s first leg after Tijjani Reijnders had initially put the visitors in front.
Moyes and Co will face either Fiorentina or Basel if they reach the final.
