West Ham kids Rice and Diangana show up Arnautovic and Payet

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West Ham United winger Grady Diangana has penned a new six-year deal at the London Stadium.

The talented teenager is to now remain with the Irons until 2025, after being rewarded for his breakthrough this season.

Diangana, who joined West Ham at the age of 10, made his senior debut for the club in the 8-0 thrashing of Macclesfield Town in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

The winger has since been a regular part of Manuel Pellegrini’s first-team squad, making 12 appearances in the Premier League.

His new contract comes just weeks after Declan Rice also committed his long-term future to the club.

It’s what West Ham fans needed to hear

Diangana’s new deal so soon after Rice’s is brilliant news for the fans, who have been having to contend with reports that Marko Arnautovic is trying to leave the club.

The Austrian is the subject of interest from Shanghai SIPG, who have reportedly bid £35 million for the forward.

The Telegraph have reported that the Hammers would be willing to let him leave if they can find an adequate replacement.

The whole situation has shades of the Dimitri Payet saga about it, with Arnautovic visibly grumpy at the end of the 1-0 victory over Arsenal last weekend.

Many fans have already lost patience with Arnautovic as they think back to the Frenchman’s acrimonious exit two years ago.

On Friday, BBC Sport reported that he will be dropped for the game with Bournemouth.

Certainly Diangana’s show of loyalty is a welcome surprise given everything that’s going on. Arguably, this show of ambition makes a mockery of Arnautovic for considering a move to China.