The 19-year-old defensive midfielder is contracted to the Hammers until 2020 and some fans have urged the club to offer him a bumper new deal.
Declan Rice is a player that many West Ham fans would like to see tied to the club on a long-term deal.
Despite being just 19 years old, the defensive midfielder has impressed under Manuel Pellegrini this term.
However, Rice’s contract expires at the end of next season and no new deal has been agreed as of yet.
According to The Guardian, the Hammers are not prepared to match the teenager’s reported demands of a £30,000-per-week salary.
In addition, the report claims that West Ham are prepared to wait until the end of the season before returning to the negotiating table.
The purported stalemate between the two parties has led to anxiety among some Hammers fans, who do not want to risk losing one of their young stars for nothing further down the line.
On Sunday, the day after West Ham ran out 3-0 winners over Newcastle United, the club’s official Twitter page posted a picture of Rice alongside teammate Felipe Anderson, who scored in the rout.
On the surface, a normal-looking picture of two of the club’s star players from the back, with the caption “Irons” – but could there be more to it than meets the eye?
Could West Ham possibly be hinting towards the fact that Rice could be one of the “Irons” on a long-term basis – beyond 2020?
Whatever the significance of the picture, it didn’t stop several Hammers fans from taking to Twitter and gently reminding the club to offer Rice a new deal:
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