Payet is staying put

LONDON. — Dimitri Payet is not going anywhere this summer.

France playmaker Payet handed West Ham a huge boost ahead of the new English Premier League soccer season by telling the club he is “100 per cent staying” with the Hammers.

The France international has been linked with a move away from the Hammers during the transfer window following his impressive debut season in the Premier League.

His displays continued to impress at Euro 2016 and that signalled interest from the likes of Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan.

But Payet has addressed his future and it’s good news for the Hammers.

He told The Sun: “I’ve heard about all the interest and I’m flattered.

“But I love West Ham. We had a fantastic season and I can’t wait to play in the Olympic Stadium.

“I’m 100 per cent staying at West Ham, I love the club. I can tell the Hammers fans that.”

West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan suggested Payet is worth £100million earlier this week.

He said: “Payet is not for sale. Just because a big club wants him, tough luck. He is worth £100million. Even at his age.

“He’s only done what he has done at West Ham all season. He’s a very talented player. He’s probably the best free-kick taker in the world on current form.”

This adds weight to the words of Hammers co-owner David Gold during the Euros.

He said then: “We’ll fight tooth and nail to make sure Dimitri pulls on a claret and blue shirt next season.

“We want to improve our squad and Dimitri is an integral part of what we’re trying to do. But we also must be realistic.

“If Barcelona or Real Madrid made a bid and he wanted to move there, it would be difficult to keep him.”

And Gold insisted West Ham were “no longer a selling club, we’re a spending club and investing in our future”.

Payet was one of the few players to consistently impress at the Euros, enhancing a reputation he built so stylishly last term, when the hammers finished seventh, just four points adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City. — The Daily Express.

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