Declan Rice will reportedly demand a release clause in any new West Ham deal amid hopes of a move to one of the Premier League’s leading sides next summer.
West Ham are keen to tie Rice down to a new contract despite the midfielder having three years to run on his present deal, with the England international attracting interest from the Premier League’s elite sides.
Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool are all understood to be interested in signing the 22-year-old, who has already rejected two offers of a new deal at the London Stadium.
90min are reporting that Rice would be ’open’ to signing a new deal, but only if it contained a release clause – something similar to what Jack Grealish at Aston Villa 12 months prior to his departure to Man City. However, the report adds that West Ham hold a policy of not including release clauses in deals.
Rice is understood to be ‘focused’ on the current season with the Hammers who will compete in the Europa League during the campaign, but expects this to be his final season as a West Ham player.
David Moyes discussed potential interest in Rice earlier this summer and said it would take a bid worth ‘far more’ than £100m to prise the midfielder away from the club.
That figure proved prohibitive for all interested parties this summer, though that valuation is expected to drop next year when he will only have two years remaining on his current deal.
Chelsea have been considered favourites to secure a deal and have a long-standing interest in Rice, who was previously apart of the club’s academy system before joining West Ham upon his release as a teenager.
