West Ham midfielder Dimitri Payet. (Photo : Getty Images)
La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid is targeting Dimitri Payet in the summer transfer window and the West Ham midfielder is reportedly ready to leave East London if "ridiculous money" is offered to him, according to his agent.
The 29-year-old France international had been remarkable for the Hammers during his first season with the team in 2015-2016, scoring nine points in 30 appearances in the English top flight while netting 12 times in 38 games overall in all competitions.
His impressive play continued during his stint with the French national squad in the ongoing 2016 UEFA European Championship. So far, he had scored two game winners after four matches in the Euros, helping Les Bleus advance to the quarterfinals of the said competitions.
This had allegedly attracted the attention of many top-notch football clubs in the world, including Real, Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, and English Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester City.
Caught Offside reported that Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane was all praises about Payet, saying that the Saint-Pierre, Réunion, France native is "one of the most important and talented players, not just in the French side, but in Europe".
"He had an incredible season with West Ham, and now at The Euros is showing that no occasion is too big for him," Zidane said, referring to Payet's recent notable run. "He would improve any side in Europe, that is how talented he is."
"From a coaches perspective he is everything you look for in an attacking midfield player," Zidane added.
Such high admiration from the coach of one of the top clubs in the world right now is said to have put great satisfaction in Payet, but his agent insists that he is happy at Stratford as of the moment.
"As far as I am concerned, he's been happy at West Ham and it's down to West Ham that he's in the position that he is in," said Mark McKay, Payet's agent, as per the Daily Express. "He's doing great now for France and to get him now, you've got to be talking ridiculous money. But football is football, so you never know."
"When he first came (in West Ham) last year, we hoped for the best with him. We knew that he was a really good player, but I don't think anyone could really expect what he has gone on to do in the Premier League so far," the agent added.
