West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic accentuated that the club has all the potential to build upon their last season’s success and take it to a higher pedestal after they held on to their star playmaker Dimitri Payet, amid huge interests from top flight clubs.
Throughout the last decade and more, the Hammers has been branded a “selling club” after top notch players like Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard and Joe Cole left the club in search of new pastures. However, new manager Bilic is confident that the club would now shake off all criticisms after convincing Payet to stay put despite huge links with top European clubs.
Payet joined the Hammers last summer for a transfer fee of £10m and has displayed sensational form which guided the club to a seventh place finish in the last Premier League season. Payet’s control over the ball, clinical finishes and strong technical abilities in the midfield has been praised by all and sundry.
The French playmaker scored nine goals for the Hammers in the last season . After a successful season, Payet recreated the same magic during his international duty for France at Euro 2016, with three goals to his name which linked him with top notch clubs.
However, Bilic has now confirmed that the former Marseille playmaker is an integral part of the West Ham squad for the upcoming Premier League season.
“We’re keeping Dimtiri Payet,” said Bilic.
“We wanted to show that the club is serious when we’re talking about new goals or trying to get the club to another level.”
“That shows me as much as the new stadium – even more – because West Ham has always been labelled as a club that has to sell our best players.”
“Whether that’s Frank Lampard or Rio Ferdinand. But we’ve kept Dimi and we showed everyone that the club is serious.”
West Ham United had an incredible last season and after bagging the new television rights the club are looking forward to bolster their squad with fresh resources which would help them to build on their seventh place in Bilic’s first Premier League season.
West Ham are eager to build up on their seventh place finish last season and they have already signed strikers – Andre Ayew, Ashley Fletcher, midfielder Havard Nordtveit,and wingers Sofiane Feghouli and Gokhan.