Declan Rice’s agent ‘laughing’ at West Ham after ‘huge’ update – pundit
Declan Rice’s agent will have “laughed” at West Ham and their offer of an eight-year contract, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker claimed there is “no way” that Rice signs a new deal.
TalkSPORT’s Jim White reported last week (11 May) that they had offered the 23-year-old a new eight-year contract worth £200,000-a-week.
His current terms have just over two years left to run but the club have an option to extend that by a further 12 months.
It is claimed that England international has no intentions of signing the new deal but believes his wages should be between £300,000 and £400,000-a-week.
And While Agbonlahor has insisted Rice will not sign a new deal he still backed him to be a West Ham player next season.
He told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “Declan Rice’s agent will have laughed at that contract offer, no matter how huge.
“There is no way he’s signing a new contract. What he won’t do though is force a move.
“He will say to the club ‘I want to leave, I want to play Champions League football’. The club will say ‘If we have to sell you it’s going to cost £120million or £150mllion’.
“I don’t think clubs will pay that for a defensive midfielder so I think he’ll be playing at West Ham.”
Rice is likely to be named West Ham’s new club captain if he stays at the London Stadium with Mark Noble set to retire.
He has played 194 times for the club since his debut in x 20yy and will rack up 50 appearances for the season if he features against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday (22 May).
In other news, West Ham are racing to sign a 24-year-old speed machine.