Report: Manchester United will move for Dimitri Payet
Could Manchester United really be a factor for West Ham’s Dimitri Payet?
Evidently Paul Pogba isn’t the only French star that Manchester United are keen to add this summer. Reports from France claim that Jose Mourinho’s club are prepared to make a massive transfer bid to pry Dimitri Payet away from West Ham.
Top Mercato has the story that claims United are prepared to offer West Ham 50 million pounds to acquire their offensive talisman. West Ham have consistently claimed they won’t be tempted to sell Payet this summer, but there are serious questions as to whether or not they could hold off a rich club like United.
If you’ll recall, West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan brashly claimed the club would require a transfer bid of 75 million pounds to part with Payet this summer. I cautioned then, that such comments would only attract serious interest from clubs with the necessary financial resources to make that sort of bid.
Now, it seems that one such club are seriously considering making a strong move for Payet. While United are only going to open the bidding at 50 million pounds, it’s not out of the question that Ed Woodward and company would be willing to meet the full asking price if they received any encouragement after their initial bid.
For West Ham, the possibility of losing Payet before the start of next season has to be frightening for the fan base. He was a transcendent talent for the Hammers last season and was a huge reason they were able to punch above their weight for a seventh place Premier League finish. Hopes are high that, with the right investment, Payet can lead the club to even bigger things this season.
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Losing Payet would likely end any chance West Ham have at realizing their top four dreams. Even if they received a massive transfer fee from United for his services, they’d struggle to attract high-end talent with him out of the fold. They could possibly reinvest the funds over the next year or two to recover their momentum, but it would certainly mean a short-term dip in results.
From United’s perspective, adding Payet would be a huge boost to Jose Mourinho’s first season in charge at Old Trafford. He’s ready to slot immediately into the starting 11 and he’s playing the best football of his life at the moment. Even if he just replicated last year’s form for the Hammers, he’d become a superstar amongst the United faithful.
Don’t expect this to be the last rumor connecting Dimitri Payet with Manchester United or any number of rich clubs this summer. West Ham fans can’t relax about his return to the club until the summer transfer window slams shut.