Mark Noble admits he does not ‘begrudge’ Arsenal target Declan Rice ‘wanting to go and win things’

Mark Noble confessed that he does not begrudge star midfielder Declan Rice wanting to move away from West Ham in order to win trophies. 

The Hammers’ sporting director insisted that the England international has ambitions to play at the highest level, but it was precisely those ambitions that make Rice ‘as good as he is’.

Rice is one of the most in-demand midfielders in the world, alongside compatriot Jude Bellingham, and has been linked with moves to Manchester United and Chelsea consistently in recent transfer windows. 

In January it emerged that Premier League leaders Arsenal had joined the race for the 24-year-old, and West Ham boss David Moyes has insisted that he would demand a bod of more than £100million to part ways with Rice.

Noble – who played 550 times for the Hammers before returning as sporting director – told the Evening Standard that Rice would be worth every penny of any fee paid for him. 

Mark Noble claimed that nobody at West Ham begrudges Declan Rice’s desire to leave the club

Rice inherited the armband from former skipper Noble on his retirement at the end of last term

‘We’re West Ham and these players want to go out and play Champions League football – and do you blame them? Dec is no different,’ began Noble. ‘Dec will always be hailed at West Ham as a fantastic player and such a top, top person.

‘But I don’t think anyone begrudges him wanting to go and win things. We just hope he’ll keep performing like he has been over the last month or so. 

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‘Wherever Declan ends up, or however much someone pays for him, whether it’s here or anywhere else, he’s worth every penny.

‘He’s said openly he loves playing at West Ham, but he has got ambitions as a player to go and play in the Champions League and win trophies. 

‘I don’t think any West Ham fan can actually have an agenda over that. Do you blame him for having really big ambitions? Of course you don’t. If he didn’t, he probably wouldn’t be as good as he is.’

As Noble alludes to, Rice has made it clear that he intends to play in the Champions League and compete for the highest honours in football. 

But that could count against Chelsea – where he spent seven years as an academy prospect – with Graham Potter’s side languishing in ninth place in the Premier League. 

A return to west London had seemed the more likely outcome this summer, but with Arsenal in a title race set to go down to the wire, Mikel Arteta’s side look to have pulled clear of their rivals.  

Rice is a target for Premier League heavyweights Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea

The 24-year-old already has 39 caps for England and has been a mainstay in recent campaigns

Man United look destined for a Champions League return next season, but with Casemiro starring under Erik ten Hag, a deep-lying midfielder might not be where the Red Devils splash £100m this summer. 

Rice’s contract in east London expires in 18 months, which could leave the Hammers more willing to accept a bid below Moyes’ huge asking price rather than risk the player leaving for free the following year. 

But the 24-year-old is not only the Hammers’ star player, but their captain too, having inherited the armband from Noble on his retirement at the end of the 2021-22 season.