Slaven Bilic admits 'Dimitri Payet does not want to play for West Ham' as he pushes for Marseille transfer
The France international shone for the Hammers last season but has lost the desire to play for the east Londoners
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West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has admitted that France winger Dimitri Payet no longer wishes to play for the club as he pushes for a return to Marseille.
Payet, who has a history of agitating for moves, has struggled to make an impact in his second Premier League season after a glittering 2015/16 campaign.
The 29-year-old scored nine goals, many of them spectacular, and made 12 more as he fired West Ham up the table in Bilic's first year as Hammers boss.
But the Croat told a press conference on Thursday morning that Payet's desire is no longer there.
"Let's get serious,' he said.
"I have a situation with a player. It is Dimitri Payet. He wants to leave.
"We are not going to sell him.
"It started 10 days ago when the window started. I spoke to the club. I spoke to the chairmen. It's not a money issue. We gave him a new contract.
"I don't think he will go this window but it will be hard to keep him happy.
"This team, the staff, we gave him everything, we were always there for him. I feel let down. I feel angry."
West Ham paid in excess of £10million for the playmaker in 2015, with Payet signing a five-year deal.
But the Hammers handed him a bumper new contract less than a year ago in a bid to keep him focused on playing for the east London club.
Nonetheless, Payet has had his head turned by interest from former club Marseille, who are bankrolled by new owner Frank McCourt.
The American billionaire, a former owner of the LA Dodgers baseball franchise, is bidding to restore L'OM to the top of the French league and Payet is one of the players being targeted.
The Independent understands that informal contact between the two parties have taken place, but West Ham are yet to receive a bid for the £25million-rated wideman.
Members of the Frenchman's camp have insisted there has been no contact with other clubs but conceded that Payet would like to return to France for "personal reasons."
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