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 after the England winger secured a massive £300k-a-week deal.
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, and last week agreed a contract to make him one of the highest paid players in the Premier League.
Rice 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.
‘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.
‘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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