Payet drops hint about making a January switch

DIMITRI PAYET has admitted he could leave West Ham in January after asking questions about the way their season has gone so far. West Ham go into the international break knowing that they could be in the bottom three by Christmas. Their next five fixtures include Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United twice — once in the Premier League and once in the EFL Cup quarter-final. Speaking on French television show Telefoot Payet (below) said: ‘We’ve had a very poor start. Leave in January? I’m asking other questions right now but I’ve closed the door to nothing. ‘Until now, I always chose my clubs depending on the sports project. I work like that. Until I can play at a level like this, it will be the case. ‘Go to PSG or Marseille? For now, they have not come to me, so I do not ask myself.’ Payet assisted Michail Antonio for the opening goal on Saturday before Bojan Krkic equalised for Stoke. Bojan admitted afterwards that he got emotional after sparing the Potters from losing because he had gone without a game since September. It is a sign of how Stoke are moving up if they can afford to call upon a former Barcelona starlet on the bench. ‘I was emotional and I’ll tell you why,’ Bojan said. ‘It’s the feeling when you haven’t really been playing and when you score a goal. ‘It was a goal to draw the game for

the team. All together it made a big moment for me and the team. It’s not good for anybody if they’re out of a team. ‘No one is happy when they’re not playing but the most important thing in that situation is to be strong and to work hard. ‘I’ve been doing extra work but I always do. I want to feel at my best and I want to be ready when the gaffer gives me the chance.’ SUPER STAT: West Ham have had just 14 shots on target at home, the fewest in the league. WEST HAM UNITED (3-4-2-1): Adrian 5.5; Kouyate 6, Collins 6, Ogbonna 6; Antonio 7, Noble 6, Obiang 5.5 (Feghouli 89min), Cresswell 6; Lanzini 5 (Fernandes 62, 6), Ayew 5 (Fletcher 62, 6); Payet 7.5. Subs not used: Randolph, Nordtveit, Zaza, Calleri. Booked: Adrian, Antonio, Noble, Fernandes. Scorer: Whelan og 65. STOKE CITY (4-2-3-1): Grant 6; Bardsley 6, Shawcross 7, Martins Indi 7, Peters 6; Whelan 5.5 (Bojan 71, 6.5), Adam 6; Walters 6.5, Allen 6, Ramadan 6 (Diouf 84); Bony 5 (Crouch 71, 6). Subs not used: Given, Muniesa, Imbula, Verlinden. Booked: Allen. Scorer: Bojan 75. Man of the match: Dimitri Payet. Referee: Andre Marriner 6.