Slaven Bilic has opened up on striker Diafra Sakho’s controversial deadline day actions, admitting the player did try to leave the club before the window closed.
Sakho travelled to Rennes without West Ham’s permission to undergo a medical and agree personal terms with the Ligue 1 club, but was denied a move after Hammer chairman David Sullivan insisted he was not for sale and would remain a West Ham for the coming season.
The Senegal star featured for West Ham on Monday night for the first time since, and was given a mixed reaction from the crowd as he entered the field as a late second half substitute.
Despite wanting away, Slaven Bilic insists Sakho has a future at the club.
“Yeah, Diafra wanted to go,” Bilic told Sky Sports (via the Daily Express). “But also, that issue is not quite black and white. Did he have permission, permission on paper or just a form or an SMS? I don’t know.
“The fact is he wanted to go there. He did a medical, but the club decided not to sell him and he’s back.”
Sakho made only four appearances last season amidst injury problems, and is likely to again struggle for first team action this time around with the club having signed former Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez.
Bilic however believes the Senegal star remains a key part of his squad, but will have to work to prove himself after his failed deadline day great escape.
“So I told him ‘Diafra, you are fit? I know what you can do. Sit there, hopefully now you are going to get fit and I am going to help you get focused here’.
“He’s been training. He came back – he flew to Rennes last week, a couple of days before the end of the transfer window – but he’s been training since.
“He looks good in training. Hopefully he is going to stay like that for a long time. Because he will know that, until January, he is a West Ham player.
“That’s the way he’s going to get a new contract, or play again for Senegal, or get a move – if he plays good.”
