Transfer Centre

Slaven Bilic: 'Keeping Dimitri Payet is a big statement'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 23 December 2016

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic says that Dimitri Payet's decision to stay at the club during the summer was a "big statement" amid speculation of a January exit.

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has said that keeping Dimitri Payet would be a "big statement" for the club.

The 29-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the under-performing Hammers in January, with Manchester United among the clubs rumoured to be interested in the France international.

However, interest in the playmaker was also rife during the summer following a sparkling debut campaign and impressive performances at Euro 2016, and West Ham were able to fend off the approaches of clubs on that occasion.

Bilic believes that Payet's decision to stay, along with Reece Oxford recently signing a new contract despite interest from some of the Premier League's biggest teams, is a sign of the club moving in the right direction.

"The whole club have showed where we want to go it doesn't matter if something happens, players come and go," he told reporters.

"It doesn't mean we are not acting big but it is a big statement with him (Payet). It was also a big statement with Reece Oxford.

"A few years ago, it would be normal for a player like him to go to a bigger club but he stayed. There were offers from other clubs so that is really big statement for us."

Payet is less than 11 months into a five-and-a-half-year contract.