Declan Rice contract talks with West Ham to restart soon – report
West Ham are preparing to restart negotiations with Declan Rice over an extension and improvement of his current deal at the London Stadium, according to ESPN.
The 23-year-old has risen to stardom with the Hammers since he made his debut in 2017 and is now the club’s vice-captain behind stalwart Mark Noble.
His current deal expires in 2024 but there are other Premier League clubs circling to sign the England international this summer.
ESPN report that the Hammers are keen to start contract talks before the summer window opens to deny any of the pursuing clubs a chance of securing his services.
They also suggest that he is one of three main contenders to fill that void in central midfield at Manchester United with Leeds’ Kalvin Phillips and RB Leipzig’s Amadou Haidara the other key names.
The biggest signing, if it happens
No player West Ham could possibly sign in the summer would come anywhere near to being as significant as Rice if they can tie him down to a new and improved deal.
He is not only the first name on David Moyes’ teamsheet, but now Gareth Southgate’s too and his ability almost certainly commands Champions League football.
He could get that at the London Stadium this season with no team looking to assert their dominance in the race for the top four yet.
It will be an uphill battle for the Irons with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United also battling for the final Champions League spot but weirder things have happened.
The return of the Europa League in March isn’t ideal for Moyes’ side but they so often find a way to battle on and they will again.
Rice may still sign if the Hammers finish in the top four but anything less might see him leave the club in the summer.
In other West Ham news, Moyes is far from pleased with the treatment one of his star players received while on international duty.