West Ham United might insert a release clause in Declan Rice’s new contract amidst interests from Manchester United and Chelsea: Reports
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Declan Rice
According to 90min, West Ham is willing to budge on incorporating a release provision in any new deal handed to Declan Rice. Manchester City, Manchester United, and Chelsea have all expressed interest in signing the 23-year-old, who has been associated with a move away from the London Stadium on several occasions.
Rice has turned down new contract offers from West Ham in the last year as he assesses his options, but the Hammers are unwilling to cash in on their soon-to-be club captain, preferring instead to build a team around him worthy of consistently challenging for a top-four finish and Champions League participation.
Rice’s current contract has two years left on it, with an option for a third, but West Ham recognizes that the agreement he signed in 2019 no longer reflects his status at the club or in the game.
Declan Rice can gain a lot of attention from the top clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea after the insertion of a release clause
Indeed, if he moves on, the England international could earn roughly £250,000 per week, though he has always indicated that any future transfer will be motivated by a desire to win titles rather than money.
Rice, though, is due a wage boost, and West Ham is eager to make him the club’s biggest earner. However, 90min reports that the club is now considering putting a release provision in Rice’s contract, which would allow him to go if a potential buyer could match the value in full.
Such a procedure has never been approved by major shareholder David Sullivan before, but it is a sign of West Ham’s intention to reward Rice with new terms while still maintaining his transfer market worth.
It’s also a tactic West Ham will only consider using for Rice, and will not be considered during contract negotiations for Jarrod Bowen, Tomas Soucek, and others.
Rice is valued at £150 million by West Ham, who want him to stay for at least another year – manager David Moyes has stated several times that he is not for sale – but insiders have told 90 minutes that an offer of £120 million is almost expected to be approved this summer. With a handful of top-class midfielders possibly on the market, it’s unclear whether City, United, or Chelsea will make a bid.
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Ujan Chakraborty
(1240 Articles Published)