Declan Rice has reportedly turned down the latest eight-year contract offer from West Ham United amidst interest from Manchester City and Manchester United.
According to Daily Mirror, West Ham United have suffered another blow in their attempt to tie down Declan Rice to a new contract as the Manchester City and Manchester United target has rejected their latest eight-year offer.
Rice has grown into one of the best midfielders in England over the past few years. A vital cog in David Moyes’s West Ham United side, he has been critical to the rise in stature that the Hammers have enjoyed recently. The 23-year-old is also a mainstay in the England national team and had been a key contributor to their final run in the UEFA Euro 2020 last summer.
Rice has been in spectacular form this season, helping West Ham go as far as the semi-finals in the UEFA Europa League. However, his future beyond the current campaign has been a topic of much debate. The east London outfit remain firm on their stance that the academy graduate is not for sale and have been attempting to tie him down to a new contract.
Rice has already turned down multiple offers from West Ham, but they continue to make efforts to extend his deal and put forth a massive eight-year proposal worth £200,000 per week. However, as per the report, the 23-year-old has shot down the latest offer from the Hammers as speculations over his future continue to gather pace.
BREAKING: West Ham will not sell Declan Rice this summer and will hold more talks about his future when the transfer window closes ✍️ pic.twitter.com/dP4uT4BEe6
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 12, 2022
Manchester City are in the market for a new midfielder as they look to replace long-serving star and current club captain Fernandinho, who has decided to leave at the end of the season when his contract runs out. Rice is one of the options that Pep Guardiola’s side are considering to reinforce their squad in the midfield department.
Manchester United are also among the admirers of the 23-year-old England international. It is no secret that the Red Devils desperately need a proper defensive midfielder in their ranks, more so with Nemanja Matic set to depart this summer. Rice has been one of Manchester United’s top targets for some time now, but the lack of Champions League football could hurt them.
Rice’s boyhood club, Chelsea, are also in the hunt for his signing as they eye a revamp of their squad under the new ownership. However, manager Thomas Tuchel has previously admitted that the Blues might find it difficult to meet West Ham United’s £150 million valuation of the midfield superstar.
West Ham, for their part, remain convinced that none of the interested parties will be able to match their massive asking price in the summer transfer window. But, Rice’s continued refusal of contract offers could become a concern, although they have no immediate worry as the England star still has two years left on his contract, with an option of a further 12 months.
On the other hand, Rice is seeking Champions League football, while his camp believes that he could pocket wages of over £300,000 per week if he joined a top-tier club. So, it remains to be seen how this situation evolves in the coming weeks.
