Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp reckons that West Ham United securing a new deal for Declan Rice is the best bit of business they have done in 2018.
The 19-year-old ace has been impressive for the Hammers this season, and there has been much talk over whether the young ace would sign a new deal to extend his stay at the London Stadium.
The club announced the news that Rice had signed a new deal that will expire in 2024 via their Twitter page and official website, and Redknapp believes that tying him down was crucial compared to the signings West Ham made in the summer.
“Tying Declan Rice down to a new deal is a contender for being West Ham’s best bit of business in 2018,” he said in his Daily Mail column.
“They made big signings in the summer but this was vital. Rice is a humble boy who lives for football. He’s only 19 years old but already one of the top flight’s most impressive defensive midfielders. He deserved his new long-term deal.”
OPINION
Redknapp is right – tying Declan Rice down to a new deal is the best bit of business that they have completed this year. Yes, signing the likes of Felipe Anderson and Fabian Balbuena were also important – but Rice is a player who has tonnes of potential. With his contract running low, it would have been only a matter of time until one of the Premier League’s top-six came sniffing around him, so extending his deal is the best thing that they could have done this year. It is easy to forget that he is still only 19-years-old, as he plays better than most midfielders in the league who are older than him. The Hammers are incredibly lucky to have a player like Rice amongst their ranks, and he is only going to get better and better the longer he stays with the club. Redknapp also labelled Rice as one of the most impressive players in his position – and based on his performances this season, he definitely is not wrong.
