Manchester United Transfer News: Dimitri Payet Interest Amid Contract Rumours

West Ham United are reportedly preparing to offer Dimitri Payet a new contract with improved terms in order to keep him from the clutches of Manchester United and other suitors. 

The France international has been at West Ham for less than 18 months, but he has already penned one new deal—reportedly worth up to £125,000 per week—which has him tied to the club until 2021, per the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel.

Now, though, the Hammers are reportedly in talks to increase the 29-year-old's wages even further and tie him to the club to the end of his career with another new contract, but he must earn his raise by scoring more goals, according to Andrew Dillon in the Sun.

The east London outfit have reportedly made moves to ensure Payet's future lies with them after recent reports linking their star man with interest from Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, per the Mirror's John Richardson.

Richardson added that the Portuguese manager "has made a wide player a priority as he attempts to mould his side into Premier League title contenders," and he revealed West Ham would demand at least £35 million for Payet.

Payet is a superb player and made a huge impact for the Irons in 2016-17 as he netted nine Premier League goals and provided 12 assists, per WhoScored.com.

Playing mainly on the left flank, he has failed yet to replicate similar form in the current campaign—he has scored only once in 11 Premier League appearances—but it is little surprise West Ham want to keep hold of him as he remains their best player, and they are struggling near the relegation zone.

What is something of a surprise, though, is that Mourinho would want to add a new wide player to his United squad.

He has numerous top players at his disposal able to operate on the flank, including a number he is not giving much of a chance to—such as Memphis Depay and Henrikh Mkhitaryan:

Given the length of his contract with the Hammers, Payet would be an expensive, and largely unnecessary, purchase for United, and Mourinho would arguably be better served working out how to get the best from his current wide men.