Could West Ham owners be planning Declan Rice Christmas contract repeat after Michail Antonio announcement?

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West Ham United fans are desperate to see Declan Rice sign a new long-term contract.

Moyes has the perfect replacement for Masuaku right under his nose

But supporters are fearing the worst after fresh speculation over a move to Chelsea reared its ugly head again (The Sun).

Rice has become one of the finest defensive midfielders in Europe at West Ham.

The 21-year-old is the first name on David Moyes’s teamsheet and he is also a mainstay of Gareth Southgate’s England side.

West Ham fans anxious for Rice to sign new long-term deal

Rice still has three and a half years to run on his current deal.

So West Ham are not under any immediate pressure to renew his deal.

But West Ham fans feel Rice has more than earned one. And they want co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold to reflect Rice’s status at the club by making him the highest paid player.

That is currently Andriy Yarmolenko, whose £115,000-per-week salary dwarfs Rice’s modest £35k basic wage.

Hammers fans want the club to follow in the footsteps of Aston Villa who have tied their own key player Jack Grealish down to a new bumper long-term contract.

Does Antonio announcement suggest Rice deal is in the pipeline?

It is unusually quiet on the Rice contract front.

But could the somewhat sudden announcement of Michail Antonio’s new deal suggest Rice is next (whufc.com)?

Surely West Ham would not increase Antonio’s wage if they didn’t have plans to improve Rice’s too? That would be a huge slap in the face for the matchday captain.

Sullivan and Gold are known to hand out new contracts around the festive and new year period.

Are owners planning Rice Christmas present repeat?

So could they be planning another big Christmas present for West Ham fans with a repeat of 2018?

Back then Sullivan revealed he had been instrumental in Rice signing a long-awaited new deal until 2024 on Christmas Day (whufc.com).

That would be the perfect Christmas present for Hammers fans and Moyes.

It would also do Sullivan and Gold’s reputation among supporters the world of good.

Of course it takes two to tango and Rice has to actually want to sign any deal the club might offer.

Let’s all hope some more Christmas cheer is on the horizon.

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