Declan Rice has thrown a curveball at Manchester United and Arsenal by admitting he may yet stay at West Ham beyond this summer.
Rice captained the Hammers to winning the Europa Conference League on Wednesday night. Jarrod Bowen scored a last-minute winner to beat Fiorentina in the final of the competition in Prague, with Rice having been at his imperious best.
The 2-1 victory means that the England international became the first West Ham player since Bobby Moore in 1965 to lift a European trophy. But there has been intense speculation about his future, with a belief that he will depart the London Stadium this summer.
United and Arsenal are understood to be the frontrunners for his signature, with the Gunners having been set to open talks with the Hammers from the end of the campaign. Now though, it appears that Rice is playing down those links with a move.
Speaking after Wednesday's win, the midfielder insisted he still had two years remaining on his contract. And he refused to deliever a farewell message to supporters as they celebrated their famous win.
"It's not goodbye yet, there's loads of speculation about my future and there is interest from other clubs, but look, nothing's happened. I'm a West Ham player, I've still got two years left on my contract," he told BT Sport.
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"I love every minute of playing for this club and captaining this club, you can see the smile on my face. It's not about that tonight, it's about us celebrating. Let's wait and see what happens.
"My focus is playing for West Ham at the moment. I'm captain of this club and I can't speak highly enough of this place. Let's just see what happens. Let's wait and see. Who knows?
"I've given my heart playing for this club over the past six years. I'd give anything to help this club win. We've not had it easy. We've been facing relegation. To win this now, to be in that category, I don't want to say too much. I'll get too excited."
Rice was also full of admiration for Hammers boss David Moyes, who has come under pressure from some sections this season. But the midfielder insisted that the Scot was now in the conversation for the club's best-ever manager.
"I want to say a big mention for the manager. There's been times this year, where he's been tested. There was a period where a lot of the fanbase wanted him out because the results weren't going well," he added.
"But if you actually look at his time at this club... he come in, saved us. Pellegrini then come in, he comes back, saved us. Then got Europe two years in a row and has now won that. I think he's up there as West Ham's best-ever manager now, honestly, it has to be said."
