West Ham are this afternoon reported to be ready to leave new Declan Rice contract talks until the summer.
Despite the teenager’s enthusiasm to get a deal done, the well respected Guardian Hammers writer Jacob Steinberg claims in his latest report on the situation that the club is adamant they have an option which allows them to extend the deal until 2021
And he adds that for that reason the club ” do not anticipate losing their brightest young talent for nothing next summer.”
His report declares: ‘They are adamant that Rice’s contract contains an option that will allow them to extend it until 2021 and they will not hesitate to activate that clause if necessary. West Ham’s belief is that they are in a position of strength.
West Ham feel their stance with a £21k basic wage plus appearances is more realistic for a young player.
Steinberg adds: ‘However, plenty of clubs will be watching closely to see whether Rice, who is comfortable in defence and midfield, grows disillusioned there.”
ClaretandHugh says: This comes as no big surprise with various sources claiming regularly that whilst there could be some tweaking of the current figures applied around Christmas, essentially the deal will remain as it is until it becomes absolutely necessary to up it towards the sort of level that Rice’s agents are looking at. That the Hammers believe they have Rice tied down until 2021 is all well and good but they are risking the lad’s goodwill if they aim to keep him waiting and waiting and insist he stays until the contract runs down. Should they hold the 2021 extension of which the Guardian story speaks option it means that if they can’t agree new figures with him they will need to sell in order to get the fee they want in 2020 anyway. He is clearly the best midfielder in the squad and it really is time to sort this once and for all.
Let us all hope that Declan Rice REALLY means it when he says that he wants to stay at West Ham; because if it is only talk & what he thinks we all want to hear him say, then we are in very great danger of losing him as the Board play at brinkmanship over his contract. I have always said – & I say it again now, he is just about the best player at the club. It does not matter one iota that he is very young; the meaningful question is, “do his performances justify him getting paid anywhere near two players who hardly ever play for the club, & who take home £200k each week for about as much effort as Declan expends just running on to the pitch at the start of the game ! Come on; I will say it again, stop this nonsense & pay him what he is worth – before he ends up playing elsewhere.
My God are they serious..they are playing a dangerous game…they will pay nasri upwards of 50 k but not our best player this season …what a pair of tools.. Who can blame him if he slaps in a transfer request all they are doing is alienating him …so so stupid
What a joke.
Stop punishing him for being young! That’s a good thing surely!
He is the same age as Kylian Mbappé who is on 300k.
The age is irrelevant. He’s been our most constant player, hes our most important player in our starting 11.
Your taking advanatge of him and the fans.
I have been very patient with the board, a lot more so then others. I think you have done a great job this window. Showed some real promise and desire.
However if you **** this up, it will never be forgotten.
It makes no sense, even if you was going to sell the player, you would want him on a big contract.
He could be the next frank lampard.
Waiting to the summer is too long! your in danger of making him unhappy, which could effect his performance.
Declan is being reasonable with wage demands, why cant we act with a bit of class and reward him for what he worth.
Simply unbelievable??? Do these jokers in charge ever see the reality of the situation, and actually follow through on anything us supporters are passionate about?????? Honestly, after this I expect him to be at another club, by the summer; you couldn’t make this stuff up!!!!
I may not be Sully’s biggest fan but perhaps this is to do with FFP ? I would rather make an agreement with Rice in January and sign some new players than spend a lot of the cash on his wages instead of getting some new blood in.
If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Sign him up …