West Ham confident Declan Rice will sign new contract after rejecting 400 per cent pay rise

West Ham are confident they will agree an improved deal with Declan Rice in the next few weeks.

The 19-year-old defender earns £3,000 a week and has rejected an offer worth more than five times that amount.

Rice came to the fore last season with some outstanding performances, both as a central defender and holding midfielder, and despite being dropped by Manuel Pellegrini after the opening game of the season, a 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, has impressed again.

The teenager, whose contract expires at the end of next season, is understood to have been offered £15,000 a week plus substantial appearance money and an increase after every 15 league matches.

Other clubs will be watching but the Hammers are confident they can agree a new deal. A source said: “We are hopeful things can be resolved in the next few weeks.”

Rice is said to want a deal of £30,000 a week but West Ham will be wary of offering too much too soon. Reece Oxford, who made his senior debut for the club at 16 and was hailed as the ‘new Rio Ferdinand’, was given a new four-year deal worth £20,000 a week in December 2016 but has not progressed since.

West Ham defender Pablo Zabaleta said: “Declan is young and still has room for improvement but he has the right ability and attitude to become one of the greatest players for West Ham.

"We need to think about his situation because, even though he is young, he looks so mature and is proving he can perform for the team. He is one of those young players you like to look after and help with all the information you can give him.”

Rice has another issue to resolve, as he must choose whether or not to stay with the Republic of Ireland or make himself available to England. England boss Gareth Southgate is an admirer of the player.