West Ham: PL defensive ace linked with Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea
19-year-old West Ham defensive sensation, Declan Rice has enjoyed a meteoric rise in the past year-and-a-half. However, the defender (currently in an international tussle between Ireland and England) may not be a Claret and Blue for longer.
Currently in the middle of a contract dispute, the London-born Rice is contracted to the Hammers until 2020. However, the academy graduate is reportedly still on a basic wage of 3,000 pounds.
All attempts to resign him to a longer deal have stalled, with reports detailing that negotiations are at a head due to a gulf in proposed and desired financial terms. Now, it appears West Ham are in for a struggle to resign their defensive dynamo, as half of the Top 6 seem keen to snatch him away.
More from Chelsea
- “600 days” Fans make SHOCK Chelsea revelation – They really are poor
- Chelsea injury news: Most expensive midfielder is a doubt vs Aston Villa
- Chelsea: Mauricio Pochettino mandates a “ridiculous offer” to sell defender
- When should Chelsea start to panic about Mauricio Pochettino?
- Chelsea: HUGE boost as Pochettino starts “world-class” midfielder today
Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs, have been installed as favourites by the bookies to sign Rice, who is increasingly becoming the Hammers’ go-to defender. This season, after a tense start, Rice has been deployed in defensive midfield, where he has hugely impressed in the Hammers’ last 2 games.
Rice enjoyed a breakout campaign last year, winning the club’s “Young Player of the Year” and runner-up for “Hammer of the Year” award too. He is touted as a future club captain and legend – but will a larger team be able to snaffle a rising talent on the cheap, thanks to West Ham’s indecisiveness?
Wages dispute may open door for Rice’s exit…
However well Rice has played in the last few months, in which time he has made his international debut, it has still not resulted in a new contract. Rice is still being paid the same amount he earned as an academy player with the Under 23’s.
The dispute stems from the fact that the club’s recent offer of 9,000 pounds is nowhere near the players’ representatives’ valuation of him. And rightly so; this is the potential future captain of West Ham. In Chelsea, Liverpool and Spurs, Rice has three juggernaut suitors desperate for a world-class, home-grown talent to swell their ranks.
Next. Man City: Aguero will be retiring at the Etihad. dark
This should raise his expected wages further, particularly as the three Top-6 clubs are willing to make a move – and fast. The youngster has also already played for Chelsea, having been released at the age of 14 from the Blues’ academy.
If he were to join any of the three PL giants however, he would do so knowing he’d be unlikely to get much first team action. This is very much to West Ham’s favour.