West Ham are likely to be busy in the January transfer window.
West Ham United defender Declan Rice is set to enter the final 18 months of his current contract at the London Stadium and manager David Moyes’ first contract as Hammer boss should surely be given to the teenager.
The 18-year-old’s deal expires in the summer of 2019, after signing a three-year offer put in front of him in July 2016. But with his performances likely to be turning the heads of Premier League rivals, Moyes must sign him up.
The Ireland Under-21 international shone for the Hammers at centre-back against Manchester City and was part of the side that beat Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
But Rice’s obvious talent and impressive maturity for someone of his age should not be the only reasons Moyes hands him a new deal, with depth becoming a concern.
Jose Fonte remains sidelined until the new year and the Euro 2016 winner has hardly done anything that is positively noteworthy, which is likely to see him struggle for a West Ham future.
Veteran defender James Collins’ future is also in doubt, as his contract expires at the end of the season and injuries have left the former Wales international with little to chance to prove he is deserving of another year. West Ham may wish to sell him in January, in order to rake in a fee.
The Sun have also claimed that 18-year-old Reece Oxford could leave permanently to Borussia Monchengladbach for £6million in Janu, and that leaves Moyes with just Angelo Ogbonna, Winston Reid and Rice if all three do indeed leave.
Also able to play in midfield, Rice is a prime example of just how good the Hammers academy system is at the moment, also producing talent such as Toni Martinez, Nathan Holland and Marcus Browne.
Securing Rice’s future is paramount to keeping a youngster with the potential to be a Premier League stalwart in years to come, but in the time being, it is crucial purely for West Ham’s depth at centre-back.
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