One last dance as Dimitri Payet leaves Marseille as a free agent with West Ham struggling for signings

Fulham initially lost but then brought back Willian in what officially goes down as a new transfer to leave the Hammers as the only club yet to welcome a “new arrival”.

There is uncertainty over who is driving and conducting West Ham’s transfer activity and targets.

The arrival of Tim Steidten has muddied the water in that regard with the Hammers being linked with contrasting profiles of player.

David Moyes is known to prefer moves for more experienced, proven players whom he has vigorously scouted. Players who can hit the ground running and ‘do a job’ right away.

Stiedten uses a data-driven approach to target players, mostly younger, emerging talent with potential resale value.

Well they don’t come much more experienced and proven – especially in a West Ham shirt – than a certain Dimitri Payet.

Mercurial French star Payet is one of the best players to have ever graced West Ham.

His sudden departure in January 2017 sullied his name with many West Ham fans who had adored him.

The French wizard effectively downed tools to force a return to Marseille six and a half years ago for family reasons.

They say time is a great healer and that has certainly been the case with Payet as Hammers fans look back with great fondness on his unforgettable 18-month spell in east London.

Payet was one of the best players on the planet during that time for club and country.

The now 36-year-old revealed he never wanted to leave West Ham but explained why he had to in his most recent interview.

Now could there be one last dance as Payet leaves Marseille as a free agent with West Ham struggling for signings?

In a shock announcement during a press conference on Friday, Pablo Longoria announced that an emotional Payet will leave Marseille a year before his contract was due to expire.

Longoria announced the ex West Ham hero’s premature departure, describing the decision as “not an easy moment.”

The former West Ham star has revealed he was offered the chance to join Marseille’s coaching staff which he rejected because he still feels he can continue his playing career elsewhere.

While it may be unlikely, could and should West Ham look to bring Payet back to the club for one last dance?

What better way to end his career than returning to the club where he really made his name for another season or two.

Payet was maginalised by Marseille boss Igor Tudor last season. But he had proved before that he can still do it at the highest level.

Yes West Ham should be looking to the future. And the reported imminent arrival of Carlos Borges proves they are.

But can West Ham really pass up the chance to bring a player of Payet’s ridiculous sublime ability back on a free transfer?

It may be the stuff of fairytales but it would certainly create a buzz around the club amid a very slow and uninspiring window so far in which the Hammers have lost their talismanic figure Declan Rice.

And after all surely it would be better to have Payet back in the claret and blue than suffer seeing him play for a Premier League rival? West Ham have Europa League football so need a big squad and Payet could come in more than handy for his free-kick and set-piece ability alone.

Or do we leave the past in the past? Over to you Moyes.

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