Declan Rice has hit the headlines again following the reported troubles renewing his contract, according to Dean Jones of Bleacher Report.
Rice, who has by far been one of West Ham’s best players this season, has really established himself as a valued member of the first-team squad in the defensive midfield role.
He’s one of the hottest talents in Premier League football with a host of clubs chasing his signature – including some very big clubs – so why aren’t his current club tying him down?
The player himself announced his intention to stay at the club in an interview with the Times (subscription required), claiming: “I want to sign for West Ham and I think it is going to happen.”
There are doubts that the club will be able to arrange Rice’s new contract however, with the signing of Samir Nasri reportedly taking priority.
Indeed, the fear amongst West Ham fans, who believe they’re going to lose one of their brightest talents in recent years, is tangible.
Should Rice pursue his career elsewhere, it would be a massive statement to the rest of the squad. And it may be on the mind of these two other players, because of this, that they should do the same…
Reece Oxford
In signing Nasri and releasing Rice, the message to players is this: we do not value young talent.
Defender Reece Oxford is another one of West Ham’s prospects who, until recently, was attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in the world.
His big breakthrough came at the age of 16 when he was rewarded with a Premier League debut against Arsenal at the Emirates. The Hammers came away from the game with three points and Oxford’s performance for the 80 minutes he was on the pitch was outstanding.
Since then he’s rarely appeared in the first-team and has instead spent his time in Germany to help his development.
Given the success of new signing Issa Diop, it seems Oxford’s time in the claret and blue of West Ham is all but over.
Felipe Anderson
The record signing Felipe Anderson only arrived this summer so a move away would come as a bit of a shock. However, we’re sure he was probably expecting a little more ambition from his new side – and the Rice situation surely hasn’t helped.
Anderson has been excellent in the wide position so far for West Ham this season securing 4 goals and 2 assists in 14 games – which is nothing to scoff at given the squad’s dreary performances.
Presumably, he was tempted away from Lazio, where the prospect of European football and domestic cups is very real, with promises of success in London.
Losing Rice does not equate to success, however. And we have no doubt that the player will see this disaster as evidence of a real lack of ambition. Certainly not what he wanted.
