Journalist Ben Jacobs has been speaking about the future of West Ham United ace Declan Rice on The Done Deal Show.
The Hammers made a bold move earlier this year, which was to offer the linked-away star a mammoth eight-year contract, which unsurprisingly was rejected very swiftly by the midfielder and his representatives.
While West Ham will have just been looking to protect their most valuable asset, Rice still has a contract to run until the summer of 2024, which also sees the Hammers have an option to extend it by a further year, so they are in no rush to cash in on him right now.
Jacobs has claimed that only an offer in the region of £150m could perhaps tempt West Ham into entering discussions.
Is £150m too much fir Declan Rice?
Yes!
No!
He said: “West Ham sources continue to say – and I know you have to take this with a pinch of salt – that Declan Rice is not available, even for an astronomical fee.
“And the only thing that might change West Ham’s mind is an offer between £120-150m.”
TIF Thoughts on Rice’s future…
While many may feel like £150m for Rice – someone who has never even played Champions League football – is quite extortionate, he is one of, if not West Ham’s best player and they have no reason to sell him, so that price tag will be there to put off any potential suitors rather than indicate his true worth.
As long as West Ham fail to crack into the top four and/or win silverware, Rice’s future will more than likely be away from the London Stadium, and his situation looks a lot like that of fellow England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, with their respective clubs just unable to keep up with their personal growth and development.