The Athletic’s David Ornstein believes that West Ham will at least have star man Declan Rice for at least another season.
The verdict comes just two days removed from when the news broke that the Hammers had proposed an eight-year contract worth £200k-per-weekl to the midfielder in order to stave off interest from elsewhere.
Will Rice extend his West Ham contract?Yes
No
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GSB’s attempts to tie down the 23-year-old to a new deal were rebuffed however, as he “is open to a summer transfer” according to the Guardian but Ornstein insists that with the player already contracted to the club until 2024 with the option of a further 12 months, that he will be staying put.
Speaking on Sky Sports (via Football Daily) this morning (Friday, May 13th) he said:
“ I think West Ham will say look you’re not going anywhere, you’re under contract until 2025 unless something outrageous comes in financially but I don’t see where that’s going to come from this summer.
“Play out of your skin at the World Cup and then in the summer of 2023, we know you’re not going to sign, you’ve got two years to go, we will cash in when your value is at its maximum.
TIF Thoughts on Rice and West Ham…
Losing Rice would be a fatal blow to the Irons’ hopes of establishing themselves as European contenders season in and season out but they do still hold all the cards given his situation.
Hammers boss David Moyes has declared before that it would take at least £150m to take their most-prized possession with the England international said to be in favour of a return to his boyhood club Chelsea as opposed to a move to Manchester United.
Rice has previously told ESPN that he as an “urgent” desire to play Champions League football “as soon as possible” and that won’t be possible at the London Stadium next season but the club will undoubtedly be looking to compete for a top-four finish once again next year and he could be persuaded to see out his stay.
AND in other news, Fabrizio Romano reveals what he has been ‘told’ amid Rice contract reports