Declan Rice would sign new West Ham contract if release clause included – report
Declan Rice would consider negotiating a new West Ham contract if the club included a release clause in the deal, but the club are unwilling according to 90min.
The Hammers vice-captain has rejected three new contract offers [Fabrizio Romano] from the club as they look to tie their star man down to fresh terms to fend off interest from elsewhere.
Rice’s current deal ends in 2024, and the club have the option of an extra year too, meaning there is no rush in negotiations, but the player’s intentions are becoming clearer that he would like to leave.
According to a report by 90min however, Rice would be more willing to negotiate a fresh contract at the London Stadium if the club inserted a release clause into the deal.
They say that the club are currently unwilling to do such a thing, setting his current value at £150m for potential suitors. They also say Rice could earn around £250,000 per-week if he were to move, something the Hammers cannot get close to matching.
Lesson learnt
Rice has always been lauded for his intelligence on the football pitch, but it now seems as though he’s using his brain off the pitch too.
Having seen players like Wilfried Zaha and Harry Kane struggle to get moves away after their clubs priced them out of transfers, Rice is ensuring that he keeps himself in the driver’s seat.
He is in no rush to leave this summer and wants to give his all to the club, helping them reach success and glory that he wants personally. But without Champions League football it will be hard to keep him at the London Stadium.
A release clause would obviously need to be agreed upon, but it would ensure that there is a fair medium kept between club and player for a transfer.
If not, then Rice will run down his contract and leave the club eventually whether it be in 2023, 2024 or 2025. He’s given West Ham a lifeline with this option, they should seriously consider it.
In other West Ham news, West Ham want to sign ‘electric’ forward valued at £20-30m who is almost certain to leave according to a report.
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