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After joining West Ham United as a relatively unknown quantity last season, French midfielder Dmitri Payet has taken the footballing world by storm with his performances in the Premier League and indeed this summer’s European Championship. After scoring two stunning goals for his native France who are 4/1 to win the tournament, according to the Euro 2016 betting when this article was produced, the 29-year-old has now become one of the most sought after players on the planet and there will surely be no shortage of clubs after his signature this summer. Such is the impact he’s made in such a relatively short space of time, it’s likely only the biggest and best clubs will have what it takes to pry him away from East London this year.
Here at Dream Transfers, we take a look at a clutch of clubs from different leagues who could land the attacking midfielder’s signature.
Premier League – Manchester United, Chelsea, Manchester City.
Big name managers adorned with even bigger budgets is the reason Man United, Chelsea and Manchester City will be the front-runners (should they wish to be) of Payet’s signature. Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte are all in their own right, world class managers and will no doubt have the pulling power to tempt Payet to make a switch this summer. With Chelsea and Manchester United looking to atone for their disastrous EPL seasons which saw them fail to qualify for Champions League football, under the stewardship of Mourinho and Conte, these two English giants will be looking to make a statement this year and signing a player in the mould of exciting attacker Payet could be the best way to set out their stall in the summer transfer window.
La Liga – Barcelona
Whilst arguably more suited to Real Madrid, there’s not many players who’d turn down the opportunity to share a pitch with Lionel Messi. With rumours pointing towards the departure of Brazilian winger Neymar this summer, although not specifically in the same position, Payet could be one player brought in to replace him.
Ligue 1 – Paris Saint Germain
There was only ever going to be one club from Payet’s homeland that would realistically have a chance of snapping him up this summer. After winning the French first tier in a canter (again) last season, money bags PSG could put an offer on the table too lucrative for the French international to turn down. With the added incentive that he would be able to see out his later footballing years back in his native France, the Ligue 1 outfit are another club who shouldn’t be written off in the race for Payet’s signature.