West Ham legend Tony Cottee says Declan Rice will leave with his head held high this summer.

Cottee insists Rice's desire to win trophies needs to be respected.

Cottee told The Sun: “It is different with the likes of Declan or myself. The reason I left the club, and I didn't want to but I felt I had to because I wanted to go and win something.

“When you don't win things, it is hard, and the money side is not easy either. If West Ham had a successful team that was winning things, Declan wouldn't be leaving. There would be no reason to leave.

“He will leave this summer. I said all along that the moment they lost to [Eintracht] Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-final last season was the moment Declan knew he needed to leave. If they had won that and won the Europa League and got into the Champions League, why would he leave?

“Now we are at the stage where Rice is in the prime of his career and wants to play Champions League football. As long as his exit is handled correctly, and I think it will be because he is a really good lad leading in the right way, I don't think any West Ham fan would begrudge him"