West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has reportedly snubbed yet another contract offer from the club, one that promised to make him the Hammers’ highest-paid player ever. As a result, Chelsea and Manchester United are thought to be interested in the player.
England international Rice has rejected a third contract offer from WHU, reports The Guardian. The club’s attempts to ward off interest from Chelsea and the Manchester clubs have hit a snag with the player refusing to commit his long-term future at the club. As it stands, the 23-year-old has a contract until 2024 with the option to extend it further by another 12 months.
The offer Rice has snubbed from West Ham would have made him the highest-paid player in the club’s history. Furthermore, the Hammers’ offer of around 200,000 pounds per week would have also pushed him into the elite category of earners within the Premier League. As per reports, no team outside of the ‘big six’ pays one of their players as high a wage as West Ham were prepared to pay Rice.
However, despite Rice’s reservations regarding his future at the Olympic Stadium, the club is in no hurry to sell him. According to the report, West Ham will turn down attempts from big clubs to sign their star defensive midfielder this summer and have already quoted a 150 million pounds tag for anyone who even wishes to sit down at the table for the conversation.
Manager David Moyes confirmed the same in a recent press conference, claiming the aforementioned price tag would be the bare minimum for any interested parties – while also reiterating that the player is not for sale.
Currently valued at 75 million by Transfermarkt, Rice has attracted interest from three of the country’s biggest teams – Chelsea, Manchester United, and Manchester City. While he seems unattainable even for the elite this summer, there is a belief that West Ham will, at least, be open to offers the summer after, when there will be just two years remaining on Rice’s contract.
