Payet cat is out of the bag

Dimitri Payet has been offered back to West Ham and Manuel Pellegrini has discussed the option with senior players.

At the same time as CandH was being briefed on the option, which currently stands at around 10 per cent according to our sources, the Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg wrote on Twitter: “West Ham have been offered the chance to sign Dimitri Payet from Marseille. No, it’s not 2015.

“Player’s reps have contacted club. Manuel Pellegrini mulling it over and has sought advice from senior players. It’s come as a surprise partly because of the manner of his departure and also because Payet is thought to be happy in France. Would be a stunning story if it happens”

Moments later ExWHUEmployee – who initially teased the story – confirmed Payet was the player he was talking about on his radio show earlier this week.

He said: “Seeing as it has been leaked now by many sources the player was Payet! Shockingly his agent got in touch with the club because Marseille needs to sell. He said he would be happy to return because the personal issues he had have been resolved. It is very unlikely at this point though”

The CandH poll of nearly 4,000 readers nearly 56% would welcome him Payet back while 44 per cent would not.