West Ham set to reward Scott Parker with bumper pay rise if they avoid relegation

Scott Parker, West Ham (Getty Images)

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EXCLUSIVE
By Greg Stobart

West Ham are preparing to reward Scott Parker with a pay rise if the club avoids relegation from the Premier League this season, Goal.com UK has learned.

Hammers co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan are considering offering the midfielder an increase on the £70,000 weekly salary agreed when he signed a five-year contract in September.

Parker has been inspirational throughout the campaign and his displays have seen him mentioned by many observers as a possible candidate for the PFA player of the year award.

Insiders have told Goal.com UK that the Hammers chiefs feel he deserves a “bonus” for the performances that have earned him a place in the England squad for Saturday’s clash with Wales.

“Scott has been the best player in the squad by an absolute mile and if West Ham stay up this season it will almost certainly have been down to him,” a source told Goal.com UK. “He is highly paid but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve a bonus for saving the club £30 million by single-handedly picking up points in some games.”

The 30-year-old was the subject of an £8m bid from Tottenham last summer and a further approach in January – but Sullivan claimed last season he was the only player in the squad who would not be up for sale.

The former Chelsea man’s commitment to the club was highlighted when he played in the goalless draw against Spurs last Saturday, less than 24 hours after the death of his father.

Parker’s influence in the dressing room was again underlined last month when striker Carlton Cole cited his “inspirational” talk at half-time as the Hammers scored three second-half goals to draw 3-3 at West Brom.

Avram Grant’s side currently sit fourth from bottom in the Premier League but are on a resurgent run of form having picked up 11 points from their last six games, in which Parker has been a key figure.

The West Ham vice-captain, who started his career at Charlton, joined the club for £7m from Newcastle in 2007 during the doomed ownership of Eggert Magnusson and Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson.

Wayne Bridge is another player whose services West Ham could move to secure in the summer.

The former England left-back is currently on loan from Manchester City until the end of the season but the Hammers have been impressed by his impact and would like him to stay beyond this campaign if they avoid relegation.

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