Manchester United are interested in signing West Ham star Dimitri Payet, according to the Daily Mirror.
The report claims Jose Mourinho is desperate to add a quality winger to his team and has identified the 29-year-old France international as a key target.
The newspaper goes on to suggest that even though the Hammers are likely to reject any bids for the former Marseille attacker in January, they could be powerless to prevent Payet from leaving next summer, but wouldn’t sell the player for less than £35m.
Payet, who provided the assist for Diafra Sakho’s early opener for West Ham at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon, was one of the best players in the Premier League last season and his performances didn’t go unnoticed by France manager Didier Deschamps, who included Payet in his squad for last summer’s Euro 2016.
West Ham’s struggles this season have obviously affected Payet’s form as well, but the winger’s inconsistent start to the current campaign is not believed to have discouraged United from making a move for the set-piece specialist.
With Anthony Martial and Memphis Depay struggling for form this season, signing another winger in January would be a major boost for United’s chances of finishing in the top 4 next spring.
However, United would find it very difficult to convince the Hammers to part ways with their best player in the middle of the season.
If Mourinho is determined to bring Payet to Old Trafford, he’d probably have to wait until the summer to realize his goal.
