In-demand West Ham enforcer Declan Rice has decided to reject a new contract offer worth £12,000-per-week amid a row over his potential future earnings, according to the Mail.
The newspaper reports that the 19-year-old’s current deal, worth £3,000-per-week, runs out in 2020.
However it is understood that the Hammers’ offer of a huge pay rise have been flatly refused by the player’s representatives, who consider the pay packet to be derisory.
The club are refusing to budge from their current stance, despite the Mail stating that there is genuine interest in the midfielder from top Premier League clubs.
OPINION
This is an extremely concerning state of affairs for West Ham supporters. Rice has emerged as a key player this season, particularly in recent games against Everton and Chelsea. He is the latest youngster to emerge from the famed West Ham academy, and fans would really be loath to lose him. Obviously you don’t want to give a young player too much too soon, but Rice is a first team regular for West Ham at this stage. Would upping their offer to £20,000-per-week really be such a bad thing for the Hammers? It’s not like Rice would suddenly be on £50,000-per-week, merely that his pay packet would come more in line with his contribution on the pitch. Frankly it would be a disaster for West Ham to lose their finest young player at such an early stage of his career, particularly if they do so due to their own intransigence. The club must swallow their pride and get back to the negotiating table before it’s too late.
