Wednesday 15 February 2017 13:48, UK
West Ham co-owner David Gold says his only regret about selling Dimitri Payet was the price.
Marseille paid £25m to take Payet back to France, after the midfielder effectively went on strike and demanded a move home.
Gold says that is well short of the France international's true value.
"My only regret I suppose is that he was sold for £25m and I think he was worth more," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"I think in an open market he would have fetched £30-35m. I think the fans feel a bit cheated and that they didn't get full value.
"He insisted on only going to Marseille. It was one club bidding, so that depressed the price. It was £25m instead of maybe £35m.
"I don't think he handled it very well. Does anybody? I suppose the answer is we are disappointed but we have to move on. There is life after Dimitri Payet."
Asked if the Payet affair had put the club off buying high-profile imports, Gold admitted the club would prefer to shop locally.
"David Sullivan, me, Slaven, we prefer English players or players who have experience of the Premier League," he said.
"That's why we have just recently moved for two players [Jose Fonte and Robert Snodgrass] with tremendous pedigree."
