Dimitri Payet to quit West Ham: Slaven Bilic confirms French ace is refusing to play and wants to leave
WEST HAM boss Slaven Bilic has revealed Dimitri Payet is refusing to play for the club.
The Hammers' boss made the shocking announcement at the press conference ahead of their home match against Crystal Palace.
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It was only in February that he signed a new deal that made him the best-paid player in their history on £125,000 a week.
Bilic said: "Let's get serious. I have a situation with a player. It is Dimitri Payet. He wants to leave. We are not going to sell him.
"We have said we don't want to sell our best players but Payet does not want to play for us.
"It started 10 days ago when the window started. I spoke to the Chairman and this is not a money issue. We gave him a long contract because we want him to stay.
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"This team, the staff, we gave him everything, we were always there for him. I feel let down. I feel angry."
The Frenchman starred last season but has not been the same player since and looks set for the London Stadium exit - although it may not be this month as claims emerge he wants to return to France for family reasons.
As a result, a front runner for his signature could be former club Marseille of Ligue 1, who have been been rumoured to be lining up an ambitious £30m bid for the their former star.
Read SunSport's profile to get to the bottom of the Dimitri Payet row
Last week, SunSport told how the former Marseille playmaker was hauled in for a clear-the-air meeting with Bilic about his commitment to the club.
Despite his exorbitant wages, the Croatian boss has become more and more concerned about his attitude as the Hammers struggle at the wrong end of the table.
He has looked off the pace in matches this campaign - a huge contrast to last season where he was the regular match-winner - and his training efforts have also been of some concern.
West Ham have become frustrated that the 29-year-old is continually being linked with big-money moves elsewhere and still want to build their side around him, hence not wanting to sell - which makes the standoff between club and player even more tense.
Payet joined at the start of last season and has since scored 15 goals in 60 games in all competitions.
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