Keeping Payet is a top priority, insists Hammers boss Bilic

Dimitri Payet: Marseille approach is rejected

Dimitri Payet: Marseille approach is rejected

Slaven Bilic refused to let speculation over the future of Dimitri Payet overshadow a dramatic FA Cup replay win against Liverpool and remains confident of keeping the player.

French playmaker Payet is reportedly the subject of a £38million bid from an unnamed Chinese clubwhile reports in Wednesday’s papers suggested Manchester City had joined the hunt to sign him.

The Hammers are already preparing an improved contract for their star midfielder, despite him only having signed a five-year deal when he joined seven months ago.

But the 28-year-old did not appear to have let the rumours affect him as he supplied the free-kick which Angelo Ogbonna headed home in the last minute of extra time to secure a thrilling 2-1 win.

When quizzed about Payet afterwards, Hammers boss Bilic insisted: “I’ll say it again; we are a club moving forward and the most important moves are on the pitch.

“We must do everything we can to keep our best players, and he is our best player. He’s happy here and very soon we will sort out his situation.”