Thursday 19 January 2017 13:10, UK
Slaven Bilic is optimistic West Ham will make a new signing before the weekend as Dimitri Payet's future remains in the balance.
The France midfielder is still working with the London club's U23 squad after initially training on his own when he said he no longer wanted to play for Bilic's team.
Payet remains intent on rejoining Marseille and Sky sources understand he has turned down weekly wages of £500,000 from three Chinese clubs because he wants a return to the Velodrome so much.
The 29-year-old is understood to be willing to take a pay cut of at least 30 per cent from his current wage of £125,000 per week in order to make the move happen.
All the while, West Ham - who have so far rejected two bids and want at least £30m for Payet - are planning for the future and Bilic is optimistic of an imminent arrival.
He said: "We are not looking for big numbers as I have strong belief in our qualities now in the dressing room, but we need one or two players.
"Are any deals close? Close is very relative in football. Many times something that looks close doesn't happen. And sometimes something that looks distant suddenly happens. But in 24 hours, hopefully."
One name West Ham have been linked with is that of Jose Fonte, with the Southampton defender wanting to leave St Mary's this month.
Liverpool have said they will not be signing the Portuguese defender in the January transfer window and Bilic has denied the 33-year-old has had a medical with his club.
"Not a medical," the Croatian coach added. "Look, I said a few times already I'm not going to talk about names."
The ongoing situation with Payet is clearly one which attracts much attention given the spectacular impact he made in his first season in the Premier League last term.
While it might continue making headlines, Bilic maintains a stand-off means there is no sign of compromise either way. He said: "Is his departure inevitable? I don't know.
"What has changed? Nothing. Dimi took his stance clearly. We took our stance very clearly and it stays the same.
"We are not going to sell our best players on the cheap just because someone wants to sign them or even because they want to go home.
"I left it with the chairman and I'm sure he's going to do the best thing. The ball is in Marseille's court. They are the ones who expressed interest. Now they should act.
"I don't talk about numbers. All I'm saying is we were very firm, we know the market, we know how good or great he is as a player. Like everybody he has his price."
Bilic, meanwhile, revealed West Ham are working to convince winger Michail Antonio to sign a new contract, with Chelsea reportedly interested in him.
Antonio, 26, whose current deal expires in 2019, set up all three goals against Crystal Palace last weekend and has scored eight times this season.
Bilic said: "When players play like that and are at a good age then they are attracting interest from other clubs and that puts them in a good position for a new deal. Definitely, he deserves it.
"It's a club decision, of course, but Mikey's got a big time green light to sign a new deal. I leave it to the chairman but I hope it's close. I hope it's done to be fair."
