West Ham United confident Declan Rice will stay at the club next season
West Ham are “confident” Declan Rice will stay at the club next season and will sign a new deal, according to Daily Mail.
The Hammers midfielder has been simply phenomenal this season, but he is hesitant of signing a new deal at the club, as of now.
The 23-year-old has rejected three contract extension offers and has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.
The report claims that the Hammers believe “they have beaten off interests” in their star player.
Furthermore, the Hammers are “assured” that the midfielder will become the new club captain once Mark Noble retires at the end of the season.
Focus on the season
The Hammers are relaxed with Rice’s situation.
Rice still has a contract at the club until 2024, with the Hammers having the option of extending that deal by another 12 months.
There’s no way he will be sold in the summer unless United or any other club come up with a ridiculous bid of £150 million to lure him away.
Rice is not tempted by money. He wants to see ambition from the club, and that is why getting into the Champions League next season is crucial.
The Hammers failed to recruit in the January transfer window, a decision that could come back to haunt them.
They still have got a brilliant chance to progress through to the final of the Europa League, but it’s really difficult for them now to get into the top of the Premier League after some poor results.
At the moment, the focus should be on ending the season on a high. Rice has shown his love and loyalty to the club and hasn’t given an indication that he wants to leave.
In other West Ham news, Tony Cottee lets slip that West Ham have “done a deal” for summer transfer and says it will be “announced soon”.
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