Former Premier League striker Noel Whelan has claimed West Ham may have to ‘cash in’ on Declan Rice in the near future.
This comes as reports claim the Hammers are planning to offer the 22-year-old a huge new contract in order to fend off a host of potential suitors this summer.
The subject of major interest from Chelsea, Liverpool and both Manchester giants, the Irons are bracing themselves for bids.
Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan admitted that the club may be best served selling if the player has a desire to leave.
You try everything possible in your means to keep your best players and your international stars. Especially in that position, he’s one of the best in that role that he plays. Much like Kalvin (Phillips) for Leeds. There’s not many of that kind of player out there that, at that age, can command that respect in that kind of defensive midfield role. He definitely can. We saw that in the Euros, especially with how good he was in the final. He took the game by the scruff of the neck, showed great quality driving forward, little nutmegs as well. So he showed everybody an array of talent that he brings to the side. You can offer him the new contract. Huge money. Sometimes it’s about the player and their aspirations and what they need from their career. If the money’s right, there’s always a deal to be done.
The 46-year-old went on to say that West Ham may have to ‘capitalise’ on the interest in the 24-cap ace and perhaps ‘white towel in’ this summer.
Rice’s form during the European Championships came on the back of a fine domestic campaign or the Hammers, featuring in 32 Premier League games and earning a 7.08 average Sofascore rating in the process.
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Valued at £63million and under contract until 2024 at the London Stadium (Transfermarkt), there is no immediate urgency in offering a new deal.
However, the club are clearly keen to further commit their prize asset and perhaps reward him for loyalty as well as performances.
Should the worst-case scenario arise, the club simply must extract every possible penny from a deal in order to suitably replace and replenish the squad.
