Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has defended Declan Rice over his contract stand-off with West Ham.
The defender, who has also been deployed as a midfield anchorman, reportedly has an offer on the table in the region of £12,000-a-week.
Phoning talkSPORT, Carragher said: “I thought it was a bit out of order from some of the callers saying Rice was getting too big for his boots or he's got to be careful about this or that.
“But to be honest I look at him and it's not just Declan Rice, it's every young player who comes through at a Premier League club or any club always have to be seen to be grateful they're playing and they can't just ask for a bit more money.
“If there was a young foreign player signed from abroad there'd be no questions about what they deserve.
“I felt it when I was playing that because I was a local lad at Liverpool I had to be seen to be grateful.
“Local players coming through at their football clubs are definitely treated differently financially.
“This is a lad who could be West Ham's main man over the next five or six years so I think it's unfair he gets the criticism for not accepting the first offer he's given."