Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has weighed in on the debate concerning West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.
Carragher has fiercely backed the 19-year-old’s decision to reject a £12,000-a-week offer – as reported in the Sun – from the Hammers, and added that there should not be a pressure on young players who are local to their clubs to be “seen to be grateful” about making first team appearances.
He believes that it is unfair that the first teamer has been receiving some criticism for turning the Irons’ offer, as he could be a key player for the club in the forseeable future.
“I thought it was a bit out of order from some of the callers saying Rice was getting too big for his boots or he’s got to be careful about this or that,” he said when he called Talk Sport Drive.
“It’s not just Declan Rice, it’s every young player who comes through at a Premier League club or any club always have to be seen to be grateful they’re playing and they can’t just ask for a bit more money.
“This is a lad who could be West Ham’s main man over the next five or six years so I think it’s unfair he gets the criticism for not accepting the first offer he’s given. Rice seems like he’s has a fantastic attitude and fingers crossed he won’t be the type to get carried away with it.”
OPINION
Carragher is right – Declan Rice should not be receiving criticism for rejecting West Ham’s offer of a reported £12,000. It is not a divine right to be playing in the first team as a young player, and it seems as though the Hammers are treating him in this way. If anything, they should be pulling out all of the stops to keep him at the London Stadium, but they are not going to do that if they are only going to offer him that amount. He needs to be recognised more for his efforts, and £12,000 is not going to suffice by the looks of it. The Sky pundit is spot on to call out those who have been criticising him for being “too big for his boots” – he is a regular first team player, so why should he be paid much less than everybody else? It remains to be seen what is stopping the Irons from offering him much more, so hopefully they get their act together soon.
