Pablo Zabaleta tells West Ham board: ‘Pay Declan Rice or risk losing a legend’
Teen has been offered around £15k-a-week to sign a new long-term deal... less than a quarter of what some of his fellow defenders are on
PABLO ZABALETA has warned West Ham they may lose a potential legend in the contract stand-off with Declan Rice.
SunSport revealed the promising teenager has been offered around £15,000 a week to sign a new long-term deal at the club — less than a quarter of what some of his fellow defenders earn.
Rice, 19, has been at West Ham since he was 15 and earns in the region of £3,000 a week after progressing through the youth system.
Talks have been on hold for months. He is under contract until 2020 and the club has the option to extend for a further year if they so wish.
But West Ham and Argentina star Zabaleta fears the best young defender at the Irons could end up leaving for a big rival if the situation drags on.
He said: “He has the right ability and attitude to become of one of the greatest players for West Ham Football Club.
“West Ham need to think about his situation because even though he is young he looks so mature and he is proving week in, week out he can perform for the team. As a team-mate, for me he is one of those young players that you like to look after and help with all the information you can give him.
“You try to help out as much as you can, but then, of course, there are people who make decisions in this club about contracts and all those things and there is nothing I can do about it.
DECLAN'S PAY RICE Hammers offer star £15,000-a-week to sign long term deal
“He has more to learn but all the players need to look after him and keep his feet on the ground because even at the age of 19 or 20 and you play two or three good games in this league, you attract attention from everyone.
“There was all the stuff about the Ireland and England football teams and you have to know how to manage those situations. But it is important for his family and the players around him to look after him.”
LATEST WEST HAM NEWS
Rice was voted Young Hammer of the Year for the second season in a row by the fans last summer for the impressive way he has matured and stepped up to the challenge. He has played for Ireland in a friendly via his Grandad’s heritage but England have courted him in recent months too, adding to the whirl of speculation surrounding the youngster.
Zabaleta, 33, said: “He is young so we don’t need to put any more pressure on him. We need to help him to keep improving.
“He is playing in a club that has got four points so far this season so you cannot think about playing in the Champions League and other competitions. Step by step — let’s not put more pressure on him and see how far he can go as a player.”
Rice’s emergence is all the more impressive given that West Ham signed nine new players this summer and that he was axed by new boss Manuel Pellegrini as the fall-guy for the opening day 4-0 defeat at Liverpool.
His recall coincided with a first win of the season at Everton followed by a spirited draw to hold rampant Chelsea on Sunday.
Zabaleta said: “The TV money is huge and the owners of every single club in this league know they need to invest to keep their team in the Premier League.
“The young players coming through from the academy now need to be that good to play in the Premier League.
“I know it is difficult for them because so much money is spent in the transfer windows and the fees are ridiculous, but if I was a young player now I would be thinking I need to be patient.
“Then, when the chance comes to train with the first team and play with them, you have to show you are good enough to earn a place in the squad as Declan has done.
“I know West Ham have always been one of those clubs who produce young, talented players so hopefully we can see a few more of them coming through.”