West Ham owner David Sullivan has confirmed that Declan Rice wants to leave the club.
A day after the Hammers won the Europa Conference League, fans were given a dose of reality.
Sullivan claims that Rice turned down a contract 18 months ago that would have made him the highest paid player in the club's history.
"We promised him he could go. He set his heart on going. You can't ask for a man who has committed more to us this season." Sullivan explained on talkSPORT.
"In due course, he has to get on and we have to get a replacement - or several replacements.
"It's not something we want to happen. We offered him £200,000-a-week 18 months ago. He turned it down.
"It's cost him £10 million to stay at West Ham in that time (in lost wages). And he wants to go.
"You can't keep a player who doesn't want to be there."