West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Dimitri Payet from Marseilles, in what would be a “stunning” story, according to a Guardian journalist.
Jacob Steinberg has said that the player’s representatives have approached the club and that manager Manuel Pellegrini is considering whether to take him back.
West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Dimitri Payet from Marseille. No, it’s not 2015. Player’s reps have contacted club. Manuel Pellegrini mulling it over and has sought advice from senior players #whufc
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) July 6, 2018
Steinberg followed up with another tweet that said it would not only be a surprise, but a “stunning” story if it happens.
It’s come as a surprise partly because of the manner of his departure and also because Payet is thought to be happy in France. Would be a stunning story if it happens #whufc
— Jacob Steinberg (@JacobSteinberg) July 6, 2018
Payet is reportedly on £100k-a-week at Marseilles after taking a pay cut when he agitated for a move from West Ham just last year.
OPINION
Wow. That’s the only word you can use to describe this. It would have seemed one of the most unlikely transfers ever after Payet agitated for a move from West Ham, alienating himself from all the fans. The rumours started last night and now it looks like there’s some substance behind them. Now it looks like the ball is in Manuel Pellegrini’s hands. From a piurely footballing perspective, and despite the fact that he’s 31, Payet would be a wonderful player for West ham (again). However, he’s still got two years left on his contract in France and would still command a hefty fee. Would West Ham want to pay that for a player with limited re-sale value? And how would the players and fans react to having him back? Pellegrini is reportedly talking to the senior West Ham players and that’s a smart move. If he can get them on side, and Payet plays as well as he did for West Ham before, the fans will eventually take him back. It might take some time, but they will start to chant his name again.
