could turn down Manchester United and Chelsea to stay at West Ham if the club win the Europa League this season, according to Paddy Kenny.
Rice, 23, has been linked with a move to and since last summer with West Ham managing to keep hold of their star man despite interest.
The Hammers are into the semi-finals of the Europa League after defeating Lyon 3-0 on Thursday night with the help of a goal from Rice who was seen kissing the West Ham badge as he celebrated.
Kenny, who played for the likes of Sheffield and Leeds United, thinks the Englishman could stay in east if the Irons triumph in Europe’s second tier competition and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Speaking to , Kenny said: ‘He is through and through and I think it comes down to whether the club wants to let him go.
‘There are a lot of factors in a transfer. If West Ham get into the through winning the then I can see him staying.
‘Why would he want to go somewhere else? He could easily have another year at the club.
‘They can then maybe get a few more players in, make themselves stronger and then see what happens.
‘He wants to play in the Champions League, there is no reason West Ham can’t be there next season.’
Ever since breaking into West Ham’s first-team in 2017, Rice has become the club’s standout asset.
Initially starting out in central defence, Rice was eventually moved into central-midfield flourishing in 2018 as he made 26 league appearances.
Further progress in 2019 saw him pick up the Players’ Player of the Year. Meanwhile, the same season, his performances attracted the attention of Gareth Southgate who named Rice in his England squad for the first time.
At the European Championships last summer, Rice was one of England’s best players as, alongside Kalvin Phillips in midfield, he formed the basis to the Three Lions’ run to the final.
Such a quick rise has been noticed by the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United who are both seeking a world-class defensive midfielder to try and close the gap on rivals Liverpool and Manchester City.
Speaking last month, Hammers manager David Moyes suggested Rice was worth ‘far, far more’ than £100 million.
He said: ‘I don’t agree with the owners that Declan Rice is a £100m footballer. Far, far more than £100m. Far, far more.
‘I look at the players who have joined some clubs from overseas and come in and nowhere near had the impact Declan Rice would have.
‘I certainly wouldn’t put a price on it. You can decide which figure you want to put on it but I wouldn’t be sanctioning anything like that, that’s for sure.’
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