West Ham slaps 50m pound price tag on midfielder Payet
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DIMITRI Payet is worth not a penny less than 50 million pounds (US$65.3 million), West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has said, but even that might not be enough to prise the France midfielder away from the London club.
Payet, who joined West Ham from Marseille in June last year, scored 12 goals in all competitions in his debut season in England and was instrumental in helping France reach the European Championship final, scoring three times.
His performances for club and country have prompted speculation about a possible move to Chelsea, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, but Gold said West Ham would be reluctant sellers even if someone matched the huge fee.
“We wouldn’t even listen to any offer under 50 million pounds and even then we need to keep our best players so we just don’t welcome any offers at all for Dimitri,” Gold told the BBC. “He’s instrumental, he’s important to us, the team is built round him and he’s not for sale. He’s settled in London with this family, the fans adore him and we’re going to the Olympic Stadium.
“We’ve done everything we possibly could do. I’m hoping that will be enough (to keep him).”
Payet’s compatriot, Paul Pogba, meanwhile, may stay put at Juventus despite talks about the midfielder’s possible move to England or Spain, his agent Mino Raiola has said.
The 23-year-old Pogba has been strongly linked with a return to English Premier League club Manchester United with Champions League winner Real Madrid also eyeing him.
Move for Pogba
However, a fee touted to be around a world-record 100 million pounds could see Real priced out of a move for Pogba, according to British media.
“There is a lot of talk about Paul’s future, but maybe he will not leave Juventus,” Raiola told The Times. “He is in no rush to leave, and Juventus do not want him to go. They want him to renew his contract. Paul is not desperate to move. We are very happy at Juventus and they are a club that want to keep their star players.”
Pogba’s contract at Juventus runs until 2019, while Raiola has worked closely with United during the close season as he wrapped up deals for his clients, midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan and striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Also, prolific Dutch international striker Vincent Janssen signed for Tottenham Hotspur yesterday for a reported fee of 17 million pounds, the Premier League club announced.
The 22-year-old — well known to English football fans having scored in a 2-1 friendly win over England in March this year — signed a four-year contract although confirmation of his transfer is dependent on international clearance.
Janssen, who finished top scorer in the Dutch league last term with 27 goals, joins Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama as fresh faces at Spurs.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino has been strengthening the squad for the twin challenges of the title race — having finished third last term — and the Champions League.
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