Dimitri Payet 'refusing to play' for West Ham after Marseille bid rejected

By Jefferson Lake

Slaven Bilic says Dimitri Payet is refusing to play for West Ham and wants to leave - but insists the French midfielder won't be sold

Slaven Bilic says Dimitri Payet does not want to play for West Ham but insists the player will not be sold.

Sky sources claim the Hammers have rejected a £19m offer for Payet from his former club Marseille this month.

Sky Sports News HQ understands the France international has been told to stay away from the first team until his attitude is rectified and he is not expected to feature in their next Premier League fixture at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Dean Saunders says that Payet has all the power after telling Bilic he wants to leave West Ham

Bilic said in his pre-match news conference: "We have said we don't want to sell our best players but Dimitri Payet does not want to play for us

"We are not going to sell him. I spoke to the chairman and this is not a money issue. We gave him a long contract because we want him to stay.

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"He is refusing to play for us. I have a team to manage. He's probably been tapped up. Until he changes his attitude and shows the commitment the club have shown him, he is out of the team.

"We had a conversation a couple of days ago but this began 10 days or so ago when the window opens.

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Image: Payet has made 22 appearances for West Ham this season, scoring three goals

"I feel angry. We gave him everything. I feel let down, angry, disappointed. I understand the players now are being tapped up. The team gave him everything."

Payet's superb performances for West Ham last season earned him a place in the France squad for Euro 2016 and he scored three goals at the tournament, as the hosts reached the final before losing to Portugal.

West Ham rewarded him with a new five-year contract last year but he cast doubt over his future at the club last month when he discussed the idea of playing for Arsenal on French radio.

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"I read that Wenger considers me the missing piece of the Arsenal's game, but he's never told me that," Payet told RMC on December 19.

"We conceded five or six at home against them. When you see them playing, as a technical player, you could only have fun in that team. They're candidates for the title every year.

"The situation at the club affects me, but I'm an ambitious person. I'm in a fight with my club and I'm giving everything for them, to get out of this difficult situation, but I'm not closing the door to anything.

"I miss the Champions League... I've got some great years ahead of me and I want to enjoy them by playing in important competitions."

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