EXCLUSIVE: West Ham are confident Declan Rice WILL stay at the club next season – and want to make him their highest-paid player and club captain as reward for showing ‘respect’ by not demanding a move
West Ham midfielder Declan Rice has been the subject of transfer speculation The Hammers are ‘assured’ the 23-year-old will stay for at least another year Rice and the club could negotiate a new deal to make him their highest earnerDespite outside interest from top clubs, Rice has not demanded a move away
West Ham believe they have beaten off interest in their coveted star player Declan Rice and will see him lining up in claret and blue when the next season kicks off.
The Hammers are ‘assured’ the 23-year-old will become the new club captain and stay ‘for at least another year’ and reject overtures from bigger clubs.
The midfielder has not given West Ham any reason to believe he wants away and plan to unveil him as the new club skipper after Mark Noble retires in a fortnight.
West Ham are confident that Declan Rice will stay at the club for at least another season
A source said: ‘I believe he is staying for at least a year and maybe beyond that. He has been nothing short of decent to the club and the fans.
‘There is still a new contract to be negotiated and he will become the highest paid West Ham player.
‘The club are comfortable with the way things are proceeding and Declan’s respectful way he is going about things.
‘When he kissed the badge and ran towards the West Ham fans in Lyon after he scored in the Europa Cup, it just underlined what he feels about the club and the supporters.
‘Declan will likely be England captain one day and it is not lost to many at the club that he is following in the footsteps of our greatest player Bobby Moore who…