West Ham United star Dimitri Payet has done little to play down rumours of a move to Arsenal.
West Ham United playmaker Dimitri Payet has told French media outlet RMC Sport that any player would have fun playing in the Arsenal team.
Payet, 29, has been criticised by some fans and pundits after West Ham’s poor start to the season, but he’s still grabbed three goals and five assists so far.
The Frenchman was one of the stars of the Premier League last season, as he notched nine goals and 12 assists in his first campaign with the Hammers following a 2015 move from Marseille.
West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet celebrates scoring
After starring at Euro 2016 with France, Payet was heavily linked with a move away from West Ham, but they managed to keep hold of him – only for speculation to continue once Slaven Bilic’s men made a poor start to the season.
Recent reports from The Sun claimed that Arsenal were lining up a blockbuster move to try and sign Payet, with his compatriot Arsene Wenger looking to challenge for the Premier League title this season.
West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet
The January transfer window is just weeks away, and whilst it remains to be seen whether Arsenal make a concrete move for Payet, the player himself has now been quizzed about the rumours.
Payet has told RMC Sport that he has read the rumours about a move to Arsenal, but joked that Gunners boss Wenger hasn’t mentioned anything to him about being the missing piece in the Arsenal side.
The playmaker added that any player would have fun playing in such a stylish, attacking side, suggesting that Arsenal are perennial title challengers, with such comments doing little to play down rumours of a move to the Emirates Stadium.
“I read that Wenger regarded me as the missing piece of the Arsenal team, but he did not tell me,” Payet joked. “We conceded five or six at home against them. When you see them playing, as a technical player, you could only have fun in that team. They’re candidates for the title every year,” he added.
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