Rice’s eight-year contract as Ten Hag slashes holidays – FootballTransfers recap

FT Desk

• Updated: 11 May 2022 20:45 BST
• 3 min read

It was another eventful day for Football Transfer news as Europe’s biggest clubs continue their plans ahead of the summer window.

West Ham offer Rice huge contract

West Ham are set to offer Declan Rice a bumper eight-year contract in a bid to ward of interest from Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Hammers are willing to pay him around £200k-per-week, making him by far their highest-paid player.

World’s highest-paid athletes

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are three of the five best-paid athletes in the world, according to sports industry specialists Sportico.

While basketball boasts the highest number of athletes in the top 100 earners with 36, only one of their number – LeBron James – outmatches soccer-playing trio Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar.

Ten Hag slashes holidays

New Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is set to lay down the law early in his new job by slashing the summer holidays for the first-team squad.

The Red Devils have had a nightmare season – the worst in their Premier League history, despite starting the campaign talking up their title chances.

Suarez slams Coutinho FAKE NEWS

Former Barcelona striker Luis Suarez has issued an angry statement condemning a report that claimed he lobbied the Blaugrana to sign Philippe Coutinho.

Barca signed Coutinho from Liverpool in 2018 for a club record €145 million, although he has gone on to become one of the biggest flops in football history.

Bayern beat Barcelona to Mazraoui

Bayern Munich have beaten Barcelona to the signing of Ajax and Morocco right-back Noussair Mazraoui.

Mazraoui has starred for Ajax under Erik ten Hag this season, contributing five goals and four assists from right-back as the Amsterdam club surged to the top of the Dutch Eredivisie table and the last 16 of the Champions League.