Report: Dimitri Payet is convinced over Marseille return but West Ham won’t budge

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Reports in France claim Dimitri Payet has been convinced to leave West Ham United and return to his former club Marseille.

Speculation linking France star Dimitri Payet with a move away from West Ham United has been rife for months particularly with Slaven Bilic’s talisman and team struggling in what has been a torrid second season under the Croatian.

Various reports have linked Payet with moves to Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain and even a mega money deal to play in China.

West Ham United’s Dimitri Payet

Payet’s former club Marseille, under the stewardship of new owners looking to make a splash in the transfer market, are reportedly lining up a bid of more than £30 million – three times what West Ham paid them in 2015 – with a player thrown in for good measure.

West Ham have always insisted the midfield playmaker is not for sale, though.

But reports in France now claim that Marseille manager Rudi Garcia has ‘almost entirely convinced Payet to return to the OM’.

Rudi Garcia has convinced Payet to return to Marseille according to reports

According to L’Équipe the French club have been in talks with Dimitri Payet’s entourage for a month and manager Garcia has been on a personal mission to convince him to return home, as reported by Get Football News France.

The report claims Garcia has played on Payet’s heartstrings about a return being a good decision for his family given the stature of the club, the region, the quality of life and ‘the desires of his loved ones’.

Despite Payet being convinced to return to the Stade Velodrome, the report reveals the East Londoners are refusing to budge and ‘have no intention of selling’.

It then hints that Payet could be willing to ask to leave to force through a move.

Some supporters feel the club should sell the player who they feel has looked disinterested this season.

Others point to the fact he has still been the best playmaker in Europe’s top five leagues statistically and say the club should have signed more quality players to take the pressure off their main man and keep progressing after a superb season last term.