CandH Exclusive by Hughie Southon

4.20 pm January 18, 2022

West Ham’s hopes of signing Declan Rice to a new deal are rising with the absence of enquiries or bids for the player over the last couple of years and into this window.

The Hammers want to make Declan the highest paid player in the club’s history and with new investment at the club could make an offer in excess of £150k with appearance, positional, win bonuses and European qualifying clauses thrown in.

They would probably also need to  include a buy-out clause  if the player and his agent are to agree to another three of four years contract.

All sides are of course aware that would take him to 25 or 26 years old when, given his rate of progress, he would be at the peak of his playing and earning powers.

The two Manchester clubs and Chelsea are the only clubs around who could afford to make a move but none are overly keen it seems at around £120 million  for a defensive midfielder.

Chelsea have Kante, Jorginho, Loftus Cheek and Barkley available in midfield along with Billy Gilmour on loan at Norwich and Conor Gallagher at Palace.

City and United could look in Dec’s direction this summer but Pep Guardiola is believed unready to pay the sort of money required for a defensive midfielder with Rodri available and a new contract again being considered for Fernandinho whilst United’s position is impossible to read until a permanent manager is in place.

All of that gives the Hammers and us fans strong hope that we could hold onto our prize jewel for three of four more seasons.