Since joining West Ham from Marseille last summer, Dimitri Payet hasn’t been out of the news.
He’s shone in his debut Premier League season, racking up 12 goals and eight assists, whilst helping his new side to within reach of the European places. And with a move to the new Olympic Stadium on the horizon, he’s picked a great season to find some of the best form of his career.
During the pulsating game against Arsenal on Saturday, Payet shone again, noticeably ousting his opposite number in the Arsenal side, Mesut Ozil. The price difference is extortionate between the two players, yet Payet was the star of the show. He effortlessly linked up with his colleagues, helping Andy Carroll get his hat-trick as the tie finished 3-3. Whilst Ozil has an impressive 18 assists this season, Payet seems to make more of a difference on the pitch, contributing with goals and defensive work – the German seems to be weaker in this respect.
Whilst it is difficult to make the comparison between the two because they are such different players, you do expect Ozil to do what he’s been doing. He’s a world class player and has been one of the best for a number of years now, so it is little surprise he has been influential.
However, when Payet came in, many wouldn’t have expected him to have the impact he’s had. Whilst he’s had good spells in France throughout his career, he never seemed to reach the dizzy heights of some of his fellow countrymen – Samir Nasri for example. Both are similar players, but Payet failed to make a big-money move to a European giant early on.
But he’s been fantastic this term and proved that West Ham’s £10m gamble has paid off. His debut season has pushed the Hammers to a position where they’re in with a real chance of getting into the top four. Who knows, had Manuel Lanzini’s goal been correctly ruled as onside over the weekend, the Hammers could have intensified their push for the Champions League.
This much wasn’t expected of Payet and no-one believed him to be this good – or he would have made the Premier League transfer years ago. His fine form hasn’t gone unnoticed and French giants PSG are thought to be lining Payet up this summer, with the Hammers placing a £40m price tag on his head. But are West Ham under any pressure to sell? They bought the former Lille man for only £10m last year and although this would bring in a huge profit, they have new-found financial strength from the Premier League’s TV deal and are awaiting the huge revenue the stadium move will bring in.
Payet has outshone Ozil this season and is only getting better. The Hammers may struggle to hold onto him but whilst they have him they will be delighted.
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