The Dimitri Payet Saga

The Dimitri Payet Saga - 

The popular phrase "From hero to zero" has never been more apt than when considering Dimitri Payet's current status at West Ham United. After all, it was only in February 2016 that the French international midfielder signed a new five year deal with the club  -  becoming its highest paid player (earning a reported £125,000 per week) in the process. However, less than a year after pledging his future to the claret and blues, Payet is now locked in dispute with the Hammers after refusing to play for them, much to the dismay of manager, Slaven Bilic, and the legion of West Ham fans .

With the club struggling to find form in the early stages of the 2016/17 EPL season, many speculated the team were experiencing teething problems at their new home ground, the London Stadium. By the beginning of the New Year, though, a surprise development went some way towards explaining their erratic form. In early January 2017, Slaven Bilic confirmed, in his weekly press conference, that the 2015/16 Hammer of the Year, Dimitri Payet, no longer wanted to play for West Ham. After a successful Euro 2016 campaign - which saw Payet score on three occasions helping his national team reach the European Championship Finals - the player's reputation was growing rapidly. Yet as the domestic season commenced, it soon became clear that Payet's club form was failing to live up to expectation. Fans asked: 'Why was he unsettled? Could it be he was saving himself for a new club?'. As the January transfer window opened amid a frenzy of unprecedented spending by the Chinese, many believed that this emerging footballing nation would be Payet's next destination. But after turning down three offers from Chinese clubs, it became clear that money was not the driving factor in Payet's desire to move on. Soon 'Family reasons'  were being cited for his desire to return to his former club Marseille. The star was even said to be willing to take a 30% pay cut in order to do so. However, there was  a major stumbling block  -  Marseille needed to buy Payet out of his newly signed mega-contract with the East London club and this would not come cheap.

Over the following weeks, meetings were held between the two clubs' officials but no fee could be agreed. At first an offer of £19 million was made by Marseille but this was quickly rejected by West Ham. There followed an 'improved' bid of £20 million which was also turned down. Now, as we reach the last week of the January transfer window, the French club have launched a final bid of £22.5 million to land their man. West Ham, however, remain adamant that the price for the mercurial midfielder is a cool £30 million and are refusing to compromise on their valuation.

With talks over a loan deal until the end of the season imminent and the January transfer window soon coming to a close, one thing is for sure … you have not heard the last of this epic power struggle between a club with big ambitions and a disgruntled yet talented player longing to return home.