Payet’s contract is “100 per cent watertight”

Dimitri Payet has been locked into a 100 per cent watertight contract without a single escape clause.

West Ham’s negotiators led, by David Sullivan, refused to give way on any sort of escape clause when pushed to the limits in seriously tough negotiations.

Having spent weeks agreeing a fee of around £10.8 million with Marseilles, negotiations on the player’s deal were equally fierce .

And the Irons made it clear throughout that there could be no ‘get out’ clauses if they were to offer the brilliant French midfielder the cash terms he wanted.

A high level source told ClaretandHugh exclusively: “There was no budging on get outs. There was no question of any escape clauses.

“The negotiations were incredibly hard and eventually a five year deal was hammered out with a year’s option in the club’s favour.

“We think he is the real deal and is a player around whom things will revolve. We couldn’t therefore even consider giving way on a single escape clause. His deal is 100 per cent watertight.”