Chelsea have made enquiries to sign Dimitri Payet according to Di Marzio. The midfielder joined West Ham United from Marseille for £10 million last summer and has been in blistering form ever since. The French International has attracted interest from various clubs around Europe following his impressive 2015/16 season.
Payet has now emerged as a transfer target for London rivals, Chelsea. Antonio Conte is said to be very impressed with Payet and wants to have him in his squad next season. Oscar is the only ‘big name’ attacking midfielder in the squad and Conte wants to add at least one more this summer.
West Ham United are in no mood to sell their prized asset but have slapped a price tag of €70 million on him. Despite signing on a 5-year deal (with another optional year) last summer, Dimitri Payet was offered a renewed contract in February. The new contract was also a 5-year deal with the wages rising to £120,000 per week!
The 29-year-old French midfielder was impressive in France’s EURO 2016 opener, assisting the first goal and scoring the winner in sensational style right at the end. His impressive display for France only managed to increase the number of clubs interested in signing him. An unnamed Chinese club had a £38 million bid for him turned down in February by West Ham and it’s reported that he’s a transfer target for Real Madrid, Manchester City, PSG and Juventus.
Slaven Bilic hails Payet’s performance for France
West Ham United was full of praises for Payet last night. He was on ITV as a pundit during France’s EURO opener against Romania and said “He would be man of the match anyway (before the goal). He was the best man on the pitch, not just his assist but also his skill. Sometimes it doesn't produce a lot of things, but the things he did on the halfway line that lift the crowd and the team and everything. The goal was amazing and of course!”
Bilic also admitted that Payet had a point to prove for the French national team. The midfielder was omitted from the World Cup 2014 squad and was the focus point of a lot of pundits who doubted if he could replicate his West Ham form for the French National team. “It was a big-time emotional game for him, because he has proved himself in England, but he needed to do that extra thing for France in a competitive game.” said Bilic.
