West Ham are making major mistake with Rice contract latest

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Talks between West Ham and Declan Rice over a new contract have been at a standstill for a while.

West Ham and Rice are at an impasse over a new deal but Hammers fans are hoping they can keep their academy graduate, amid interest from other clubs.

But according to a recent report by The Guardian, West Ham will wait until next summer until they commence talks with Rice again.

West Ham play waiting game

Rice’s current deal expires in summer 2020 and he earns just £3,000-per-week.

This report suggests that the 19-year-old’s agent wants him to sign a new £30,000-per-week deal while West Ham have only offered half of that.

As a result, West Ham will postpone further talks until the end of the season and they are confident they can keep the ex-Chelsea schoolboy.

Declan Rice at West Ham

Rice is a key player at West Ham, featuring regularly for Manuel Pellegrini’s side.

Despite still being a teenager, Rice has made nearly 50 first-team appearances in claret and blue.

This season, featuring in a holding midfield role, Rice has been a standout performer for West Ham.

This has alerted plenty of other clubs, especially with contract talks coming to a halt.

Major mistake

Waiting until the summer is a dangerous game by West Ham, especially with big clubs circling.

It seems nonsensical to hold off contract talks when other clubs are trying to poach West Ham’s star asset for a cut-price fee.

At the age of just 19, Rice is already a first-team regular and one of the most consistent performers in the senior side.

He plays with passion, composure and a willingness to learn. There is no reason why he cannot be West Ham captain in the next two or three years.

And with West Ham reportedly keen on free agent Samir Nasri – who would be earning £80,000-per-week – his wage demands are not an obstacle.

It is about time West Ham rewarded Rice with a contract reflecting his first-team importance – £30,000-per-week is not a ridiculous wage for such an integral player.

If West Ham delay contract talks and Rice ends up leaving on the cheap, this could be the biggest mistake that the club have made since the turn of the century.