Dimitri Payet Transfer Rumours: Latest News and Speculation on West Ham Star

After an outstanding debut season with West Ham United and a similarly impressive turn for France at UEFA Euro 2016, speculation is mounting over Dimitri Payet's future. 

Continue for updates.

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West Ham Fear Payet Departure

Friday, June 17

According to the Mirror's Adrian Kajumba, the Hammers are concerned the Frenchman's excellent performances for Didier Deschamps' side could put him further on the radar of Europe's biggest clubs and invite bids from the likes of Chelsea and Real Madrid.

As Kajumba noted, West Ham have done everything in their power to keep Payet by handing him a lengthy and lucrative new deal just eight months after signing him from Olympique de Marseille and "have refused to give his admirers even a sniff of encouragement by putting a valuation on his head."

However, the Blues are keeping tabs on him and "sources close to Real" believe it would be "typical" of Los Blancos president Florentino Perez to make a big-money move for him after he did the same for James Rodriguez after his outstanding 2014 FIFA World Cup with Colombia.

The playmaker bagged 12 goals and 15 assists for the Hammers last season and has continued his fine form with Les Bleus, netting in both of their games at the European Championship so far.

Per Kajumba, his agent Mark McKay reiterated that Payet is content where he is but did not rule out a big-money move:

"

As far as I am concerned, he's been happy at West Ham and it's down to West Ham that he's in the position that he is in.

He's doing great now for France and to get him now, you've got to be talking ridiculous money. But football is football, so you never know.

"

Indeed, the midfielder has plenty of incentive to stay put—not only was he rewarded with a generous new deal in February, but the team were in the running for UEFA Champions League football last season and will be moving to the Olympic Stadium this summer.

However, were one of his suitors to come in with a truly sensational offer—and Real Madrid seem more likely to do that than Chelsea, even if they have little need for him—it would finally give him the chance to play for an elite club, and at 29 years old, those offers don't come around often.