Clinton Morrison insists West Ham ace Declan Rice will stay next season
Clinton Morrison believes that key West Ham ace Declan Rice will stay at the club next season despite his uncertain future.
The England international rejected his third London Stadium contract which leaves his future very much up for debate.
Rice’s Hammers’ future is dependent on their European success this season as they look to bounce back against Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg but if the 23-year-old does leave, he will go for “crazy money” according to Morrison.
He told BBC Sport: “Declan Rice has got three years left on his contract, if West Ham win the Europa League and get Champions League he will be there for another season, but it depends who could come in and who wants to pay the money for him.
“West Ham are in a good position, it’s not like he’s only got a year left he’s got three on his contract so they’ll be asking for crazy money.
“I think if they get Champions League he will have another season but he is the complete midfielder, he can do everything and all the big clubs will be looking at him but if they get to the Champions League then they are a big club.
“I understand if he wants to win things more regularly but I think he will still be here next season.”
Stars aligned?
It would be brilliant if Rice stayed at West Ham should they win the Europa League as well as earn Champions League football come to the end of the season.
That might keep him at the club for a year or two longer but his long term future at the club seems all but sealed.
Even if the Irons did win the competition, the former Chelsea youngster could take the same stance as his captain and Hammers veteran Mark Noble in seeing that as the perfect time to leave the club and you could hardly blame him.
The midfielder wants to end his Irons career on a high and winning a trophy and putting the team in the best club competition in the world would certainly do that.
If he crashed out of the competition whilst underperforming it would have the same impact and might slightly tarnish his departure.
As hard as it is to take, this is the perfect time for him to leave – should everything go to plan.
In other West Ham news, Carlton Cole and Joe Cole were left in awe of rarely seen Hammer’s Europa League displays.
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