PAY BACK TIME
Controversial star in line for a shock return to Hammers
WEST HAM are interested in a shock reunion with Dimitri Payet – less than two years after he walked out on them mid-season.
The 31-year-old France midfielder has been offered to the Irons, with new boss Manuel Pellegrini (below) keen as he was not at the club when Payet left in January last year.
The sticking point is understood to be Payet’s wage demands that the Hammers – close to a deal for free agent Jack Wilshere – are not prepared to pay.
West Ham’s board are wary of moves for both players, but are prepared to back Pellegrini.
Payet arrived in east London in the summer of 2015 for a bargain £10.7million from Marseille.
He went on to inspire West Ham – whose first game of the season at Liverpool has been chosen as a live TV game by Sky on Sunday, August 12 – to seventh place and Europa League qualification. Despite being handed a lucrative five-year deal, Payet demanded to leave just months later. He refused to play for the Hammers after a bid from Marseille was rejected. West Ham boss at the time, Slaven Bilic, said: “Until he changes his attitude and shows the commitment the club have shown him, he is out of the team.” Payet, however, stood his ground and eventually forced through the move back to his homeland. To make it worse for Hammers fans, his performances at Marseille remained at a high level. He helped them to last season’s Europa League final, but then missed the World Cup after suffering a hamstring injury in that match.