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Arsenal Transfer News: Slaven Bilic on Dimitri Payet Exit, Cohen Bramall Rumours
- Updated: December 22, 2016
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has dashed Arsenal’s hopes of making a winter move for Dimitri Payet after outlining the club “do not want to sell him.” Meanwhile, the Gunners have taken Hednesford Town defender Cohen Bramall on trial.
Metro’s Chris Davie referred to Payet’s recent comments of praise regarding the prospect of playing under Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger before providing quotes from Bilic addressing rumours of a January exit:
We do not want to sell him, he is our top player. We said the same the last window and now all the speculation starts again. He’s got a contract with us, a long contract and I’ll say what I always say: we don’t want to sell him.
West Ham have given a strong statement that we want to keep our best player. You can’t stop speculation; great players always attract attention when the window comes.
We always knew this would happen, that there would be stories, rumours in the media. This is why it’s important for the club to say this, but it’s nothing new.
The statement gives another strong indication that the Hammers will do their utmost to keep hold of the France international next month, mentioning Payet’s contract—which runs until 2021—as a particular sticking point.
Those comments came after Payet spoke to French radio station RMC and admitted he would enjoy playing at the Emirates Stadium, having been fiercely linked with a move to Arsenal …
