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West Ham must renew Rice contract and make promises

By Scott Johnson

West Ham United's English midfielder Declan Rice celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Watford at The London Stadium, in east London on July 17, 2020. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
West Ham United's English midfielder Declan Rice celebrates after scoring their third goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Watford at The London Stadium, in east London on July 17, 2020. (Photo by Adam Davy / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ADAM DAVY/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /
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West Ham’s summer is likely to be a nervy one, as clubs try and prise Rice away. Manchester City were linked last year, but it seems to be Chelsea as front runners at the moment, so what can we do to keep him?

The long and short of it is, if we don’t improve as a club, we’re not going to be able to keep him past next year. Declan Rice is a player that could easily play Champions League football and if West Ham aren’t at least pushing for European qualification I can’t blame him for not hanging around. Footballer’s careers are short, and playing at the highest level possible is what it’s about.

So to keep Rice, I think the club need to move on a two-pronged approach. Firstly, pay him what he’s worth. Secondly, we need to ensure him that the club has goals that match his for the next season or two. And, this is the killer one, we have to agree that if we fail to meet those targets, he can leave next summer.

The Contract

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The first step in keeping any player is ensuring they are paid appropriately. Or at least that they think they are. It’s well known that Rice is not earning on par with other supposed ‘stars’ of the side, and if he were to leave he could command a much higher wage. So the board must take this reasoning off the table.

Also, the more money involved in a contract, especially if we can get a longer-term one discussed, the more other clubs will be forced to pay to get him. It’s very simple proof of how much you value the player, and gives a nice strong bargaining position.

Now I know we can’t compete with City or Chelsea around how much is being paid, but a pay rise is a pay rise, and will work in the short term at least. If you’re getting an extra 20% per week that always makes things easier to swallow, but the fact is we can’t just compete here.

The clauses in the contract will be important. With interest in him, Rice is likely to want a release clause, and potentially a staggered one built on league position. If we say we won’t sell him this year, and the fee next season will depend on where we finish in the league, I think we’ll have all parties happy. But it’s got to be carefully written.

The Promises (Clauses)

For most people, promises don’t have to be written in a contract. But with our board, I’d certainly want it in writing if it was me. So, therefore, the promises we make, and the fee we receive for Rice in a year or so, will be based almost entirely on how we do in the upcoming season.

Starting from a worst-case scenario, it would read something like if we were to get relegated, we’d have a minimum fee release clause of 30 or 35m. The best case is that we finish top 4, and in that case, he has a release of 100m or something stupid like that. Maybe if we win a trophy or qualify for the Europa League it’s around 75m, if he would want to leave. At the end of the day, I would hope the board would keep promises without the contract, but there isn’t much trust there.

Given his cemented place in the first team, there’s no real place to make that a promise. But I think he should be made vice-captain and promised the captain’s armband once Noble finally does move pass his playing role.

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Hell, if there are players he would like to sign I think he should be given a say over who comes and goes. He’s that important to the way we play, and to our future chance of success, that what he wants he should get. Because a West Ham without Rice is a prime relegation candidate next year. So do what we can to keep him, write it in the contract. Remove the doubt for this year, and give us targets for next.