Declan Rice has well and truly taken his opportunity to shine in the first-team this season and West Ham are poised to reward the centre-back with an improved contract.
The 19-year-old made his senior debut in the final game of last season and Slaven Bilic saw huge potential in the teenager and handed him an opportunity to impress at the start of the current campaign, featuring him in the starting eleven in the opening three games of the season.
Splitting time between playing centre-back and a holding midfield role, Rice has continued to progress under David Moyes, making 17 appearances across all competitions so far this season.
With his current contract set to expire at the end of next season, the Hammers are ready to tie Rice down to improved terms to signal his progression into the first-team fold.
Both Jose Fonte and James Collins are 34, with the latter of the two set to become a free agent in the summer, along with the fact that both Winston Reid and Angelo Ogbonna will turn 30 this year, West Ham want to keep their talented young defenders at the club and Rice’s extension has been made a priority.
Both Manchester City and Arsenal have been monitoring Rice’s progress as he’s come through the West Ham ranks and the club hope his long-term future is in East London.
