Carlton Cole says West Ham shouldn’t be worried by Declan Rice rejecting new contract
Carlton Cole believes West Ham are still in the driving seat when it comes to Declan Rice’s future, despite the midfielder rejecting a new contract.
News emerged on Friday night that Rice had rejected a third offer of a new contract from the Hammers [Fabrizio Romano], sparking more speculation that he could leave in the summer.
But Cole, who was speaking on talkSPORT, thinks there is no need to panic at the London Stadium and that Rice could go on to become one of the best midfielders in the world.
“He’s a top, top player,” he said. “He could go on to be great, one of the best midfielders in the world. I’m putting him in that category.
“I’m not overrating him I just think when he’s in midfield he has so much influence. Critics will say he doesn’t score enough, but he doesn’t need to the way he plays.
“He’s in a different part of his career now where he’s an established pro in the first-team. Every club wants to get him and try to prize him away from West Ham.
“But West Ham are in the driving seat mate. He can turn down the contract, West Ham have to offer him a contract, he can turn down the contract but it doesn’t mean he’s going anywhere any time soon.”
Patience
Cole is right in terms of paper work, that the Hammers are in the driving seat because Rice’s contract currently ends in 2024 and they have the option to extend that by another year.
However in terms of being fair and reasonable, they are running out of time to give their star man what he craves and that’s Champions League football and trophies.
Rice has been open about his ambitions, and it seems highly unlikely that West Ham will be able to deliver on it any time soon unless they can win the Europa League this season.
If that happens then he will surely be open to staying but without it, taking another year from him when there are interested parties that can offer that to him seems harsh.
That said, he is under contract and if nobody is willing to pay their asking price then that isn’t West Ham’s problem in truth. Rice is a professional and the likelihood is he stays for one more year before a compromise is found.
In other West Ham news, West Ham star sets new contract stipulation, club unwilling currently – report
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