Payet refuses to ‘justify behaviour’ at Hammers after £25m move
Dimitri Payet took a pay cut to rejoin Marseille and does not feel the need to justify his mutinous behaviour at West Ham.
The 29-year-old forward has completed a £25 million move after becoming unhappy at West Ham.
Payet scored 12 goals for the Hammers following a switch from L’OM in June 2015, but he left under a cloud having refused to play in a January match at Crystal Palace.
At his presentation yesterday, Payet said“i don’t have to justify my behaviour. (West Ham manager) Slaven Bilic has his own opinion about what I did. We had plenty of face-to-face discussions, and I know what I said. I wanted to come back to Marseille.
“I was no longer happy at West Ham, I had to come back home.”
Sunderland boss David Moyes decided to sell wantaway defender Patrick van Aanholt to fund a mini-recruitment drive.
As the Dutch full-back completed a move to Crystal Palace, which could eventually net Black Cats £14m, Everton duo Bryan Oviedo and Darron Gibson were on Wearside to join former Toffees teammates Joleon Lescott, Victor Anichebe and Steven Pienaar,
0 Dimitri Payet: Gone ‘home’. who had earlier answered Moyes’ call to arms.
Costa Rica international full-back Oviedo has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal and Republic of Ireland midfielder Gibson has penned a contract lasting for 18 months.
Moyes said: “I thought it was a good deal (and) it was solely my decision. There are several reasons, but one of the main ones was that I felt that it would allow me to bring in other players. Because of the level of the wages, the sale meant I had opened up the ceiling, which allowed me to maybe get some players in.”
Leonardo Ulloa feels “betrayed” by Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri for apparently refusing to let him leave the King Power Stadium and says he will refuse to play for the club again.
Ulloa has started only once in the Premier League this season, and he handed in a transfer request last week in an effort to force his exit.
It is understood the Foxes knocked back a £7m offer from Sunderland yesterday, which has infuriated the Argentinian.
He wrote on Twitter: “With all respect for LCFC FANS. I feel betrayed by Ranieri and let down by the club. I will not play again for them...”
Swanseaaresettosignaston Villa midfielder Jordan Ayew with defender Neil Taylor moving in the opposite direction.
Villa will also receive a fee which could rise to £5m.
“It is not done yet, but it is close to being done,” said Swansea manager Paul Clement. “Neil has been a great servant to this club, but I feel it is the right time for a new challenge for him and he would like to take it.”