After mesmerising the West Ham faithful with his incredible performances since moving to West London, French international and superstar Dimitri Payet dropped a bombshell on the club a few days ago by handing in a transfer request. The player, who showcased his ability to turn the game on its head with his abilities on and off the ball, has gone from being one of the beloved figures at the club to being hated by the Hammers faithful.
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While his manager Slaven Bilic has publicly said that he will not let his star player leave, it would be deemed a good move to let go of a player who doesn’t want to play for the club anymore if a healthy transfer fee comes in. Given his pedigree, there will be no shortage of suitors for the player.
In this segment, we take a look at 5 possible destinations for Dimitri Payet.
#1 Arsenal
The Gunners currently find themselves in a complicated position as their efforts to bind superstars and pivotal players such as Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have stalled, leading the Arsenal faithful to grow increasingly frustrated. The two leading figures of the London club are into their final 2 years of their contract with the club.
Arsene Wenger could be tempted into making a move for the Frenchman Payet since he would bring stability in the creative area that the club is looking to retain in the form of Ozil and Sanchez. The player has the requisite Premier League experience, has shown incredible ability with West Ham as well as France, and could seamlessly fit into an Arsene Wenger side that plays attacking football.
In addition, his situation at the London Stadium could bring down his price a few notches to make him affordable even for Mr. Wenger, and with recent reports emerging that Arsenal remain in contention to sign him, we would not be surprised if this move does materialize.
#2 Chelsea
The Blues juggernaut was halted by Spurs in their last match but Antonio Conte’s men remain hot favorites to take home the coveted Premier League trophy, come the end of the season.
However, recent reports have suggested that their leading striker Diego Costa might be seeking a move away from the club. The Spaniard has had a row with coach Antonio Conte and rumours suggest that a Chinese club could offer a £30 million per year contract to him.
While the side does not remain short of creativity or attacking firepower, with the likes of Hazard, Pedro, Willian and Fabregas finding their feet again, they could definitely do with the threat that Payet would bring along with himself. In the current season, the club has featured only in domestic tournaments and given their recent showing, they are all but guaranteed a European spot in the upcoming season and a player of Payet’s calibre would bring immense depth to their attacking options in the long run.
Conte’s efforts to bring Arturo Vidal to Stamford Bridge seems to have taken a hit for the worse and Payet would prove to be the right man at the right price for the Italian manager.
#3 Marseille
The original story that ran around the time the news of Payet handing in the transfer request at West Ham stated that the Frenchman, who would turn 30 soon, was looking to move back home to his former club Marseille.
The Frenchman plied his trade at the Stade Velodrome during the period 2013-15 and was a fan favourite at the club. Under the aegis of their new owner, American businessman Frank McCourt, who is not afraid to spend money in a bid to catch up with Paris Saint-Germain, it is largely believed that West Ham already had an offer in the region of £20 million for the player, which was turned down by the Hammers.
However, Marseille do not seem keen on giving up the chance for the star French international and are ready to increase their offer to £30 million to sign him. The added allure of moving back to his country is being spoken about as the pivotal factor in the move materialising, apart from the club bettering his current payment of £120,000 per week.
#4 Paris Saint-Germain
Payet has been a long-term target for the reigning French champions, with the club coming very close to signing him in the summer of 2011. The move did not materialise then and his then club Saint-Etienne turned down the move and relegated him to the reserves squad when the player tried to enforce the move.
While he did move subsequently to Lille, Marseille and West Ham, he has eluded the Paris giants and this might prove to be the best time to bring him to the club.
The current situation at West Ham has alerted his long-term admirers and it is highly possible that the player could make his dream move to the Parc Des Princes in the ongoing transfer window. Despite the presence of a star-studded line-up, the Paris side has struggled in the current season and currently sit in the 3 spot, 5 points behind the pace-setters Nice.
Payet has showcased an incredible dribbling ability, is a threat with either of his feet and would instantly complement the attacking firepower at the club. Additionally, his ability to play in a number of positions as well as his calibre as a player who has performed in each of his sides would strengthen his case with the current PSG manager Unai Emery.
#5 Inter Milan
Like Marseille, Inter Milan too are a club that is looking to bring back their glorious years to San Siro and what better way to do so then assemble a galaxy of stars. Signing Payet, who can be termed as an elite midfielder in the world, could be deemed as a strong statement of intent by the Italian club.
The club is not short of financial strength and with the rumored price for the player hovering in the £30-35 million range, their pursuit of the elegant yet effective playmaker could prove beneficial for the club’s fortunes on the pitch.
In Mauro Icardi, Inter have a striker who can prove to be an even greater asset with better quality and should they bring in Payet, he would immediately make the first team, which looks devoid of any creativity at times. The Frenchman has shown excellent ability to link up with his attacking colleagues and can knock in goals at a regular frequency himself.
However, this move looks a bit tough owing to Payet never having played in Italy as well as Inter also not enjoying a good season, which can be described as tumultuous.
With the other possible destinations vying for the top prize in their respective leagues, it would certainly be a tough decision to move to Inter. For now, we will have to wait and watch if Payet would prefer to be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond.
