China? Man City? Chelsea? Pah. Payet extends deal

Matt Stead

Pep Guardiola is sure to be devastated after Dimitri Payet signed a new five-year contract at West Ham.

The 28-year-old French playmaker was only seven months into a five-year deal having joined from Marseille for £10.75million in the summer, but had been a reported £38m target for an unnamed Chinese club.

Chelsea and Manchester City had also been linked recently, but Payet is staying at Upton Park.

Such has been Payet’s impact for the Irons, the east London club moved to ensure he will not be easily lured elsewhere.

A club statement on the official website read: “West Ham United are delighted to announce that Dimitri Payet has signed a new long-term contract with the club.

“The outstanding France playmaker, who has made a huge impact in claret and blue since arriving from Marseille last summer, has penned a deal until the summer of 2021…. and is delighted to have pledged his long-term future to the club.”

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic had earlier on Thursday talked of his desire to keep Payet as an integral part of the squad.

“Both parties have the intention to stay at West Ham. When you are playing like he is playing many clubs are showing interest, but we are going to do everything we can to keep him with us,” he said.

“Every player has a price but the good thing is he is happy at West Ham, we are more than happy with him and I hope – and I really think – that he will play with us for a long, long time.”

Payet will be in the Hammers side which travels to Norwich on Saturday, but Bilic has a host of new injury worries following Tuesday’s extra-time FA Cup replay win over Liverpool.

Defenders Winston Reid and Joey O’Brien are to undergo scans on hamstring injuries, while midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate will miss the trip as he was knocked unconscious during the last-gasp 2-1 victory.

Centre-half James Tomkins will also miss out after a scan showed the calf injury he suffered at Southampton last Saturday will sideline him for around five weeks.

“We will know how long Winston and Joey will be out after the scans,” Bilic added.

“With Tomkins out, we are without three defenders, so in that department it’s not a great situation.

“Kouyate is okay, he is doing well but because of the rules he cannot play because he was unconscious.

“We have a few other knocks, but to be fair we have a good feeling.

“Physically and psychologically Liverpool was a long game – 120 minutes drains you. But when you go through, it’s almost like pre-season – you don’t feel fatigue. You feel good and you are looking forward to the next game.”