Dimitri Payet on the move? Five clubs for West Ham’s Frenchman of flair

Ligue 1 giants PSG are an enticing 8/1 to be Payet’s next stop, with Unai Emery’s men requiring an edge as they languish third in the French top-flight behind surprise leaders Nice and Monaco.

Payet could provide the Parisians with an alternative to mercurial attacking catalyst Angel Di Maria, whose time in the City of Love has been plagued with rumours of discontent.

As another mooted to leave Europe for China, adaptable Payet would be an ideal replacement for Di Maria, but PSG have already splashed big on Germany international Julian Draxler, who takes up similar positions on the pitch, so could it be a case of too many cooks?

Arsenal

If Payet were to stay put in the Premier League, which side would suit the silky Frenchman best? Arsenal are intriguing shouts at 16/1 to land the French set-piece threat.

Arsene Wenger has long been tipped as a suitor for his compatriot, but a Gunners grab for the West Ham star looks unlikely this window, with summer a more realistic time for this switch. But could that be too late?

With a £32m price being bandied about, it would surely be too rich for Wenger until the futures or exits of rumoured wantaway Gunners Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are resolved.

Payet would provide a new dimension from corners and free-kicks that would suit revived Bleus teammate Olivier Giroud, and an attempt to land the plotter from their London rivals would be a real signal of title-chasing intent.

Marseille

Payet spent two successful seasons at Marseille, where he really made his name before being bagged by Slaven Bilic for the Irons. Is it now time for a return? The odds say it could be so, with the French team 3/1 second favourites to poach Payet next, if he doesn’t remain with West Ham (11/10).

With the liked tweet on Payet’s Twitter account relating to a Marseille move, L’OM fans may have more reason that most to hope the attacking midfielder comes home.

A top assist-maker for the Stade Velodrome side, Payet could return as a hero and play out his days as part of an apparently ambitious project under new owner Frank McCourt.

Could the two-time Ligue 1 Assist Leader be tempted to return to help his old team capture France’s top division title?

Manchester United

Under Jose Mourinho, Man Utd are once again becoming deadly on the counter-attack, but sometimes have still struggled to break down smaller sides.

The Red Devils set-up could thus suit Payet to a tee, though odds of 9/2 for Old Trafford to be the midfielder’s next stop are still quite short considering the improved form of both Juan Mata and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

Mourinho’s likely priorities instead are adding a new centre back or another deep midfield conductor to ease Michael Carrick’s burden.

Still, Man Utd posses an ever-growing French contingent, with Payet a promising reinforcement alongside the likes of Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba.

Any Chinese Super League team

While in his pomp for both West Ham and France at the end of last season, Payet was even linked with the likes of of football royalty Real Madrid.

But, with his stock having fallen since, Payet may now fancy one last payday aged 29 and forgo the prestige of the European elite in favor of East Asia’s wealth. So, a move to any Chinese Super League side is a superb 7/1 shot.

With still-in-their prime talents such as Oscar and Axel Witsel having headed to the Chinese Super League this transfer window already, apparently unsettled Payet following suit would not shock.

An unnamed Chinese club supposedly offered almost £40m for Payet’s services last term, which West Ham might just snap their hands off for now. But would the string-puller jeopardise his France chances?

Tianjin Quanjian are one side to have been named in the press as failing to lure Chelsea’s Diego Costa. Could coach Fabio Cannavaro now turn his attention to poaching Payet for the Tianjin team?

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