West Ham United manager David Moyes has confirmed that midfielder Declan Rice could leave the club this summer if the Hammers drop into the Championship, per The Guardian.

What’s the word?

The Hammers are currently battling the drop and sit 18^th in the top-flight ahead of their clash with Manchester City on Sunday.

Rice signed a new contract in December of 2018 and it runs until 2024.

Call yourself a West Ham expert? How much did each of these January signings cost?

However, Moyes, who believes that the England international is currently “the best holding midfielder in the country”, says that Rice could well depart if the Irons do suffer the ignominy of relegation.

He said: “Quite often when building a club you have to sell. I hope it’s not the case with Declan but I said the same with Wayne Rooney and Joleon Lescott [at Everton].

“But the team got better because we were able to sign the right players to replace them.

“If that ever came around [Rice leaving] I’d hope we’d be able to do the same here as well.”

More than just Rice

There would be a genuine exodus of players if West Ham dropped into the second-tier.

Rice was the subject of interest from Manchester United last summer and will surely be alert to his situation if the Irons do indeed drop down to the Championship.

He is a player who plays a very specific role and while there would surely be a number of interested clubs, one has to imagine that he would be one of many to depart.

Per Spotrac, both Andriy Yarmolenko and Jack Wilshere earn over £100,000-per-week at the Hammers, while the likes of striker Sebastian Haller, Pablo Fornals, Manuel Lanzini, and Felipe Anderson would surely attract interest too.

The question must be asked as to whether they would be willing to remain at the club and help them climb back into the Premier League.

One has to feel that the answer would be no.

Meanwhile, Jarrod Bowen must take inspiration from a new Premier League star!