West Ham United star Declan Rice is now 'expecting to leave' east London, according to a new report.

The Lowdown: Hammers struggle for form...

The Premier League side have struggled for consistent league form thus far, having won just two of their opening eight matches in England's top flight.

West Ham have also scored just five goals with Wolves being the only side to find the net less times than David Moyes' men, a surely worrying statistic.

The London Stadium side did manage to clinch their first victory in a while last weekend with a solid 2-0 win over Wolves and they will be aiming to build upon that with a result against Fulham on Sunday.

The Latest: Report makes worrying Rice claim...

However, amid their downturn of form, it appears a worrying update has emerged on the future of star midfield man Rice.

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90min claim the England international is now 'expecting to leave the club' at the end of this season and Chelsea are the frontrunners for his signature.

Indeed, the report adds that the Hammers' lowly league position will do little to convince Rice he can in fact clinch silverware in claret and blue.

The Verdict: Big 2023...

West Ham chiefs will be doing all they can to convince the 23-year-old to commit his future.

Called an 'underrated progressive contributor' by BBC and Sky analyst Statman Dave, Rice is an absolutely crucial presence in midfield.

As per WhoScored, he currently ranks as the Irons' second-best performer by average match rating and makes more tackles per 90 than any West Ham player.

He also boasts the highest pass accuracy (88.2%) of any regular in Moyes's squad, adding a real composure and assurance to the West Ham midfield.

It could be a big 2023 for the future of Rice as West Ham aim to keep their star man.