West Ham United look likely to lose Dimitri Payet and Slaven Bilic could fill the void with Stoke City’s own wantaway star Bojan Krkic.
The Sun reports that Hammers talisman Payet is desperate to return to former club Marseille as his wife has moved back to France with his children and he is homesick as a result.
The Hammers have repeatedly said they are under no pressure to sell and will not be bullied into losing their best player.
But Payet’s relationship with the club’s fans may now be beyond repair making an exit inevitable.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic with wantaway Dimitri Payet
Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold are believed to be holding out for at least £35 million before considering parting with a player who had been taken into the hearts of everyone connected with the club.
And while no deal has been agreed yet, it looks increasingly likely Bilic will have to plan the rest of the season without his main man.
The former Croatia boss was already desperate for new recruits in the January window regardless of the recent Payet bombshell.
West Ham have been criticised for a seemingly scatter gun approach to their transfer business with bids for Jermain Defoe, Robert Snodgrass, Glen Johnson and Moussa Dembele proving unsuccessful so far.
Bojan Krkic has told Stoke he wants to leave
But Bilic now has a chance to go for a player who is actually up for sale and actively seeking a move with the news Stoke’s talented attacker Bojan is available for around £12 million, as reported by Sky Sports.
The 26-year-old Serbian-born Spain international wasn’t in the Potters’ squad for Saturday’s 3-1 win at Sunderland having told manager Mark Hughes he had some mild discomfort in his hip.
That has further fuelled speculation he could be on his way out with Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough said to be in the running.
In truth West Ham needed added creativity before the recent Payet revelations, now they will be desperate for it.
Bojan has scored 15 goals in 60 appearances over two and a half seasons for the Potters and weighed in with plenty of assists too.
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