Wednesday 10 August 2016 16:42, UK
Slaven Bilic believes West Ham have shown they are no longer a selling club by keeping hold of star man Dimitri Payet this summer.
Payet enjoyed a sensational debut season in England last year after joining West Ham from Marseille, helping the Hammers finish seventh in the Premier League - their highest finish in the top flight since 2002.
His superb performances for France at Euro 2016 saw him linked in the national press with a move away from West Ham, with Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain mooted as potential suitors.
But West Ham, who have already begun life at their new 60,000-seater London Stadium, have kept hold of Payet and Bilic is convinced the club have made a statement of intent ahead of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign.
"In keeping Dimitri Payet we have shown the club is serious and trying to get to another level, as much or even more than with the new stadium," the West Ham manager told Sky Sports News HQ.
"West Ham was always labelled as a club that has to sell its best players, be it Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand or whoever. But we have kept Dimi, and we have shown to everyone that the club is thinking seriously."
Bilic has also added to his squad, notably securing the services of Algeria winger Sofiane Feghouli and Norway defensive midfielder Havard Nordtveit as well as breaking the club's transfer record by signing Andre Ayew from Swansea for £20.5m.
Ayew scored 12 goals for Swansea last season, including one against West Ham in a 4-1 victory at the Boleyn Ground in May, and Bilic feels his new frontman will have a big impact at the club.
"First and foremost he (Ayew) was (previously) at a big club at Marseille," he added.
"He's an international, he's the captain of Ghana, he's at his best age and he's already had a year in the Premier League so it's nothing new to him.
"Players today make you feel at home after just a few days so I'm sure we can expect some good football from the newcomers straight away."
