Declan Rice will leave West Ham in the summer transfer window if they don’t qualify for the Champions League, according to Charlie Austin.
Rice has been in fantastic form for the Hammers this season, helping them challenge for a top-four place in the Premier League and reach the knockout stages of the Europa League.
The 23-year-old midfielder has captained David Moyes’ side this season, with Mark Noble frequently on the bench.
West Ham are currently fifth in the Premier League, a point behind fourth-placed Manchester United, but have lost their last two games.
They failed to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window as moves for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez and United midfielder Jesse Lingard collapsed.
Rice is under contract with the club until June 2024, but reports suggest that United, Chelsea and Manchester City are all lining up attempts to lure him away from the club in the summer.
And Queens Park Rangers striker Austin believes that West Ham’s failure to land new players in January could play into the hands of Rice’s suitors.
“I’m saying West Ham have a better chance come the summer, keeping hold of Declan Rice with them making the top four than what they do without,” Austin said on talkSPORT .
“If they don’t make top four, it’s likely Declan Rice is going to leave.
“If they went and got a striker, or strikers, to help them get into the top four, and they achieve that, it’s more likely Declan Rice will stay at West Ham.
“This is West Ham’s time to really go and push on, sign someone to stamp it and say ‘we’re going to have a right go, we’re going to try and get into the Champions League’.
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“Everybody has a time, and what a time it is for West Ham to do it, look at the clubs around them [Manchester United, Arsenal, Tottenham ], they haven’t strengthened, not enough.
“There’s not [sic] getting away from it, and it’s going to happen in two months time, three months time, I know everyone keeps going on about it, but Declan Rice is going to come up again.
“If they don’t get Champions League football, he is going to leave.”
Rice has made nearly 200 appearances in all competitions for West Ham since making his debut in 2016.
He is undoubtedly the club’s star player and Moyes has previously stated that he is worth over £100million.
But the Hammers may struggle to hold onto the England international, according to The Telegraph , who report that the Premier League’s biggest clubs are set to come calling at the end of the season.
West Ham are aware of the possibility but are confident Rice’s contractual situation will at least earn them a sizable transfer fee.
