Slaven Bilic believes it is crucial West Ham keep Dimitri Payet in the long term, saying the midfielder could potentially be offered an improved contract.
Payet has proved his quality since joining from Marseille last summer, producing a series of fine performances having signed a five-year contract with the option of an extra year. The France international, 28, has scored six league goals, despite missing more than a month with an ankle injury, and his form has made him one of the transfers of the season.
Payet is thought to earn around £70,000 a week and Bilic, asked if he would welcome a new deal for the player, said: “We are moving, the club is moving, with the new stadium, with the revenue and everything. We have to move and the most important move is to keep your best players and to add some new players who are needed and Dimitri Payet is our best player – I have no problem whatsoever to say that. Of course, I would love to have him happy, long term, at the club.
“He signed only a few months ago but he has made a huge impact – a very, very huge impact – and while he has a long contract, five-and-a-half years, he is in a good position.
“It is not only the staff and the players but also the fans and the board, we all want to keep him for a long, long time,” added the manager.
