Paper Round: West Ham weigh up shock Dimitri Payet return
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Published 07/07/2018 at 06:19 GMT
West Ham may re-sign Dimitri Payet, Wilfried Zaha may leave Palace, Jordy Clasie is on his way out of Southampton and Wahbi Khazri is set to go back to France.
Tränen bei Dimitri Payet: Frankreich-Star verletzt sich im Europa-League-Finale
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West Ham consider shock Payet return
West Ham could be on the verge of bringing back Dimitri Payet to the club. Payet left 18 months ago as he forced through a move to the French coast by going on strike before completing a move to Marseille. New manager Manuel Pellegrini is keen on the 31 year old, but West Ham are reluctant to meet his wage demands as they also close in on Jack Wilshere.
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West Ham United's Dimitri Payet applauds fans after the game
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Paper Round’s view: Payet’s form in Ligue 1 continued to impress when he joined from West Ham, and he was unfortunate that an injury kept him out of the national team squad for the World Cup. However, on big wages and now 31, it seems like too great a risk to bring back someone who has proved himself unreliable. It is hard to see how the fans would welcome him back, too.
Zaha turns down Palace contract
Crystal Palace’s winger Wilfried Zaha has turned down the offer of a new contract at Selhurst Park. Just 18 months ago, he signed a deal worth £100,000 a week, but has now rejected an offer of a deal for £125,000 a week. Tottenham, Everton and Borussia Dortmund have all been linked with the 25-year-old Ivory Coast international, and Palace have responded by putting a £70m price tag on the player.
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Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace celebrates with Patrick van Aanholt of Crystal Palace after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion at Selhurst Park on May 13, 2018 in London, England.
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Paper Round’s view: At 25, Zaha would offer any English club the chance to sign a player brought up in the Premier League, and with the determination to succeed at a bigger club having failed to make a mark in his time at Manchester United. He has the talent and potential to be one of the world’s best, so it makes sense that he wants to move. A club like Spurs or Dortmund would be an excellent club to join, given their history of developing players.
Clasie set to leave Southampton
Mark Hughes looks set to raise funds for his new side by selling Jordy Clasie. He joined Southampton in 2015 for £8m, but failed to make an impact on the south coast as he and the rest of the club. He spent last year on loan at Club Brugge, and could now move back to the Netherlands with a permanent move to Feyenoord, his former side.
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Swansea's Gylfi Sigurdsson in action with Southampton's Jordy Clasie
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Paper Round’s view: Clasie is reportedly still adored by Feyenoord fans, and it was where he hit his top form, so it makes sense that he would be interested in moving back to the club. For Hughes, it is a useful way of clearing someone off the wage books and also raising funds for a transfer. Fans of Southampton have complained at the recent low level of investment in the playing squad, so any money brought in is vital, assuming Hughes can use it.
Khazri at centre of transfer battle
Former Premier League playmaker Wahbi Khazri could be on the cusp of leaving England and joining a Ligue 1 side on a permanent deal. Khazri remains on the books of Sunderland, who have been relegated to League One. He spent last season on loan at Rennes, scoring 11 goals in 29 appearances and impressed for Tunisia at the World Cup. Rennes want to make the deal permanent, but face competition from St Etienne.
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Wahbi Khazri
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Paper Round’s view: Khazri has been offered 50,000 euros a week by Rennes, which would be difficult for him to turn down, but it is something of a surprise that no Premier League side is interested. At 27 he has plenty of years left in him and has been in sparkling form in France. Given Sunderland’s awful financial position, it surely would take a relatively low bid to complete a move.
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