MX23RW : Sunday, July 7 09:55:16| >> :120:76281:76281:

Dean Ashton: 'West Ham United right to keep Dimitri Payet'

Former West Ham United striker Dean Ashton hails the Hammers for managing to keep hold of France midfielder Dimitri Payet entering the new campaign.

Former West Ham United striker Dean Ashton has hailed the Hammers for managing to keep hold of France midfielder Dimitri Payet entering the new Premier League campaign.

It had been thought that Payet, who scored 12 times in his debut season for West Ham, would be the subject of interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona this summer off the back of an impressive Euro 2016.

The London club have thus far been able to resist interest in the 29-year-old, however, and former Hammers forward Ashton has hailed the club for standing firm.

"He was absolutely off the charts at the European Championships, I was never worried he was going to leave," he told Sky Sports News. "I think he liked the fact he's been treated like a hero at West Ham and he was thankful he did it himself, but West Ham gave him the platform to get him in to that France squad and do what he did."

West Ham will open their Premier League campaign away to Chelsea on Monday night.

ID:279065: cacheID:279065:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:1446:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Slaven Bilic embraces Dimitri Payet during the FA Cup game between Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United on February 20, 2016
Read Next:
Bilic: 'Keeping hold of Payet a real statement'
>
rhs 2.0
Euro 2024 fixtures header
Tuesday, July 9
 
8pm
Semi-Finals
Spain
vs.
France
Wednesday, July 10
 
8pm
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!