By Russell Edge

14th Feb, 2021 | 8:00am

Ex-striker verdict on Noble quitting West Ham to join new club in the summer

Mark Noble may quit West Ham this summer and join a new club for the final few years of his career.

That is according to ex-Leeds United striker Noel Whelan, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Hammers captain’s future.

Noble, a fans favourite who’s spent his entire career at West Ham, has hinted this could be his final campaign with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Speaking to the West Ham website after the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, the 33-year-old, who turns 34 in May, admitted it may have been the last time he got the chance to play at Old Trafford.

Asked if he thought it could be Noble’s last season at the London Stadium, Whelan told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge: “Yeah, it could be his last season, you know you talk about players’ longevity at a football club and does he really want to stay there?

“He loves the club, he’s West Ham through and through but I think everyone will understand that if it’s his last year and he’s coming to the back end of his career, he needs to be playing and enjoying it, make the most of it and squeezing every last bit of juice out of the game that he’s got.

“He doesn’t want to finish just being at West Ham and being a bit-part player, that’s not how people want to end their relationship with a club. I’m sure that he feels he’s got enough left in him to go and play another couple of seasons somewhere and be successful somewhere.

“He’ll still have that desire and appetite for the game and I think it might be a farewell for him at the end of the season.”

Noble has lost his regular starting place this season, with Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek the preferred central midfield partnership of David Moyes.

In other news, a Leeds & West Ham target is in talks to join Premier League club after terminating deal.