Transfer insider Dean Jones is unsure as to whether West Ham United will bow to Declan Rice's demands of inserting a release clause into a potential new contract.
What's the latest news involving Rice?
The England international is contracted to West Ham until 2024, although the deal has the option of being extended by another year.
But the Hammers are keen to tie him down to an even longer contract after former club Chelsea, who released the 22-year-old when he was still a teenager coming through their ranks, were heavily linked with making a move during the summer transfer window.
Manchester United were also interested and told a move would only be possible if they met the West Ham's £100million price tag, while cross-city rivals Manchester City kept tabs on Rice's situation ahead of the deadline passing last week.
However, West Ham's hopes of Rice committing his future to the east London club have suffered a blow after the defensive midfielder rejected two offers of a new deal.
It is understood that, amid continued interest from both Manchester clubs, Chelsea and Liverpool, Rice will only pen a fresh contract if a release clause is included.
Rice's demands come after feeling as though he was denied a summer transfer due to the Hammers' prohibitive £100million asking price.
What has Dean Jones said about Rice?
Transfer guru Jones believes Rice will hold firm on his insistence for West Ham to meet his demands of a release clause in any potential new contract, but is unsure as to whether his current employers will be willing to play ball.
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He told GMS: "It's a very tricky one because, obviously, it doesn't really make much sense for him to sign a new contract unless there is a clause in it which gives him an out and that's really what he is going to be looking for.
"Whether West Ham will agree to that, I don't know. I'm not sure what the clause would be either because they stuck a £100million valuation on him during the transfer window which, dare I say, he wasn't particularly happy about."
How has Rice performed this season?
Rice has been involved in every Premier League clash of West Ham's campaign so far and claimed an assist in the 4-1 win over Leicester City last month.
He also scored in England's 4-0 victory over Hungary last week and, while he was left on the bench for the clash with Andorra, played the full 90 minutes of the midweek draw with Poland.