West Ham United fans are desperate for the club to pay young star Declan Rice what he is worth to keep him at the club.
Declan Rice was a rare highlight in an otherwise disappointing season for West Ham last term.
The 19-year-old started his career at Chelsea and his form last season has seen clubs of a similar ilk mentioned as possible future destinations for the Ireland international.
Rice’s emergence has been a major boost for West Ham and he has been tipped to be a future captain of the club.
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Indeed given current market values for top young players he could also have saved Hammers owners David Gold and David Sullivan £40 million in the transfer market.
Rice’s future remains unclear, though, despite recently telling West Ham’s official website he wants to stay in East London.
According to the likes of talkSPORT Rice has rejected what he and fans see as an unacceptable contract offer of just £8,000 per week despite proving himself as a first team regular by last season’s end.
Negotiations remain ongoing but regardless of his situation at the club West Ham must get a grip on the youngster’s somewhat unprofessional media behaviour.
When Rice made a mistake in the 4-1 defeat at Arsenal last season he was publicly criticised by David Moyes.
But the player took to Twitter to respond to the criticism saying: “I’m young.. I’ll make mistakes.. it’s all a leaning process to get to the top. Thank you too the fans again who were brilliant ready to bounce back next week.”
That drew criticism from Irish pundit Eamonn Dunphy who told RTE: “Certainly, Declan Rice should get off Twitter because anything that goes on between himself and his coach should stay within the dressing room – you don’t need to go public like he did.
“If you’re on Twitter answering your coach, then you’re on the wrong side of where you should be.”
But Rice has not taken that advice on board.
He then spoke out against West Ham owner David Gold after he said he hoped Rice could yet have a successful career as an England player, as reported by The Independent.
While unhelpful, the comments were grounded in fact but Rice took to the media again to respond to his employers, telling The Irish Independent: “He’s (Gold) done an interview on transfers and it was way off-topic to come out and say ‘Declan Rice for England’ when I’m here with Ireland.
“He knows that I play for Ireland so it’s one of them where I just forget about it. I’ve come here to enjoy myself.”
And now the West Ham starlet is even getting involved in the debate over his new contract on social media, ‘liking’ a post urging the club’s owners to reward him with a better deal.
Rice must be careful things do not go to his head too much, even if he is regarded as a grounded and well-rounded individual with the drive to reach the top.
His media behaviour borders on the unprofessional and West Ham must nip it in the bud or he risks going the way of another great Hammers hope, Reece Oxford who has barely been seen since bursting onto the scene back in 2015.
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