TalkSPORT presenter Alan Brazil has blasted West Ham United for the contract offer they have made to midfielder Declan Rice.
Broadcast journalist Brazil says he is “baffled” at the latest offer made to the 19-year-old, which has been reported by the Sun as being £15,000-a-week, which is £12,000-a-week more than what the fan favourite is currently on.
He has maintained that this figure is too low for a player who is playing in the Premier League on a regular basis, and claims that young players at the likes of Manchester City and Manchester United are on more money than Rice, but have not even featured for their clubs yet.
He also predicts that the midfielder could be seeking around £50,000-a-week if the club decide to take a risk and leave negotiations until the end of the season.
“This is what baffles me about football with the vast amounts of money around. There’s no doubt this kid is a top player, or going to be a top player,” he said on the Alan Brazil Breakfast Show on Talk Sport [25/9].
💰 "There are kids at City and United who haven't even played yet on more money than Declan Rice…
🎲 …they must offer him more or it's a big, big gamble."
🗣️ Alan Brazil says #WHUFC must offer Declan Rice more than the reported £15,000-a-week or risk losing him! pic.twitter.com/1ab6IhBxAD
— talkSPORT Breakfast (@TSBreakfast) September 25, 2018
“Why take the risk with £12,000-a-week? I’m not saying give him £50,000-a-week. £12,000-a-week is nothing in football terms. The guys at Man City and United who haven’t even played yet are on more than £3,000-a-week.
“It’s a no-brainer. They have to increase or take a huge gamble and renegotiate at the end of the season when he will want £50,000-a-week or maybe more.”
OPINION
There is no doubt that Declan Rice should be on a higher wage for the amount of games in the Premier League, so it is not surprising that Brazil has laid into West Ham in the way that he has. As he has pointed out, players who have not even featured for the likes of United and City are still on more money than Rice, which is ludicrous. He is clearly a talented footballer and he deserves to be recognised more for his efforts for the Hammers – and the reported offer of £15,000-a-week is obviously not enough in Brazil’s books. West Ham need to go back to the drawing board, as what they have offered is not enough for the hard work he puts in. He has been one of their stand out players recently, and it is daylight robbery that he is currently on so little a week. If they are serious about keeping him, then they must reward him more for how hard he works for the first team.
