West Ham technical director Mark Noble says the club accepts they're likely to lose Declan Rice this summer.

Rice has turned down several offers of a new contract from West Ham, and Noble is under no illusions that the 24-year-old could be the latest academy graduate the leave the club for big money.

“It's just the world we live in," Noble told the London Evening Standard. “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. 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.

“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 Han 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."