Make Rice captain and give him new deal

by Sean Whetstone

Declan Rice has captained the Hammers in wins and clean sheets over Leicester City and Wolves as well as the historic comeback and draw against Spurs on Sunday.

And is so doing has surely proven himself a natural born leader. His post match interview(see below)  showed what the result against Spurs and West Ham means to him.

Now is surely the time to reward make Dec by making him the permanent team captain of West Ham maybe giving Mark Noble a honorary and symbolic role.

With Rice now tying down a permanent England role he will attract more and more admirers from the top six clubs.

With Jack Wilshere off the wage bill and Felipe Anderson on loan for the season perhaps West Ham would have nothing to lose in offering a Rice a new six year deal worth six figures per week to make him one of the top earners at the club.

We might not keep Rice forever but making him our captain and making him one our top earners might see him remain a Hammer for a few more years to come.