LONDON COLNEY, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 19: Bukayo Saka signs new long term contract at Arsenal FC at Sobha Realty Training Centre on February 19, 2026 in London Colney, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Bukayo Saka became Arsenal’s highest paid player with his new contract this week (Getty)
Declan Rice should force a move away from Arsenal this summer if he is not offered a new contract like Bukayo Saka, according to talkSPORT host Adrian Durham.
Saka signed a new deal with Arsenal this week to become the club’s highest paid player on wages in excess of £300,000 a week.
The 24-year-old, who came through Arsenal’s academy, has been a pivotal figure in the team under Mikel Arteta, whose side are still in contention to win four trophies this season.
Rice, meanwhile, is currently in his third season with Arsenal following his £105 million move from West Ham in 2023.
The 27-year-old has also been one of Arsenal’s standout performers over the past two years and Durham believes the former West Ham captain ‘must be fuming’ that his ‘commitment and quality has been totally disrespected’.
‘Rice gives everything every game,’ Durham said on the talkSPORT Daily podcast.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 18: Declan Rice of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 18, 2026 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by MB Media/Getty Images)
Declan Rice is more of a captain than Martin Odegaard for Arsenal, according to Adrian Durham (Getty)
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‘He’s always available, he covers every blade of grass, he never rolls around pretending to be injured, he’s the heartbeat he team, he’s more of a captain than [Martin] Odegaard will ever be. And yet, he’s just heard that news that Saka has become the highest paid player at the football club.
‘He must be fuming. In one stroke, Declan Rice’s commitment and quality has been totally disrespected. So, I see giving Saka a fat, new contract as an insult to Declan Rice.
‘Making [Saka] the highest paid player just absolutely sticks the knife in and if I was Declan Rice’s agent, I’m pinning Arteta up against the wall, asking what’s going on.
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‘I’m advising him to demand a new improved contract, and if Arsenal can’t deliver that, force a move out of the club in the summer and go somewhere that’s going to respect Declan Rice’s talents.
‘Saka deserves it, I have no problem with Bukayo Saka at all. I’m an England fan, I love Bukayo Saka.
‘I look at it and think to myself there are number of clubs across Europe who would happily take Declan Rice, they’d pay a lot of money for Declan Rice, they’d pay him a lot of money as well, he’s in a very strong position.
‘If I was Declan Rice I would feel insulted that I’m not the highest paid player at the football club. I don’t think he’s that kind of guy but it’s got to niggle at him deep down.’
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