West Ham in position for ‘huge’ Declan Rice windfall after £150m update – pundit
Alan Hutton has admitted only a “huge sum of money” will convince West Ham into selling Declan Rice.
The former Scotland international, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the “ball is in West Ham’s court” thanks to the one-year contract extension clause they have in the 23-year-old’s current terms.
The Athletic claim (25 April) the Irons want to keep Rice past the summer and will instead look for a £150million fee in 2023.
The midfielder has reportedly rejected a third contract offer at the London Stadium and the Irons have conceded they will have to cash in at some point.
However, Hutton insisted the east Londoners are in a position to demand a mega-money fee.
Hutton told Football Insider’s Russell Edge: “Obviously the ball’s in West Ham’s court. They’ve got a clause and they can trigger it. He’s got the best part of two seasons left and then the next one.
“It really depends who’s going to come in and put up the big amount of money it’s going to take to get him out. It will be a huge sum of money.
“He’s very young. If he has to stay at West Ham, I don’t think that will be a problem to be honest. He loves the club and he’s got time on his hands.
“It’s another one where he could get into a situation where he doesn’t sign the contract and he says: ‘Right, no problem. I’ll stay for the next two seasons. Then I’ll go where I want for nothing.'”
Rice signed his current terms back in December 2018.
He has been a mainstay for the Irons, with 189 appearances and 10 goals under his belt.
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