Payet close to new West Ham deal, claims boss Bilic
Dimitri Payet is "very close" to signing a new contract at West Ham, according to manager Slaven Bilic.
The 28-year-old French playmaker - a reported £38million target for an unnamed Chinese club - is in talks over improved terms at Upton Park.
Payet is only seven months into a five-year deal, but, such has been his impact since joining from Marseille for £10.75million in the summer, West Ham are desperate to ensure he will not be lured elsewhere.
"I think we are very close to signing a contract and I hope it's going to be done," Bilic said.
"Both parties have the intention to stay at West Ham. When you are playing like he is playing many clubs are showing interest, but we are going to do everything we can to keep him with us.
"Every player has a price but the good thing is he is happy at West Ham, we are more than happy with him and I hope - and I really think - that he will play with us for a long, long time."
Payet will be in the Hammers side which travels to Norwich on Saturday but Bilic has a host of new injury worries following Tuesday's extra-time FA Cup replay win over Liverpool.
Defenders Winston Reid and Joey O'Brien are to undergo scans on hamstring injuries, while midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate will miss the trip as he was knocked unconscious during the last-gasp 2-1 victory.
Centre-half James Tomkins will also miss out after a scan showed the calf injury he suffered at Southampton last Saturday will sideline him for around five weeks.
"We will know how long Winston and Joey will be out after the scans," Bilic added.
"With Tomkins out, we are without three defenders, so in that department it's not a great situation.
"Kouyate is okay, he is doing well but because of the rules he cannot play because he was unconscious.
"We have a few other knocks, but to be fair we have a good feeling.
"Physically and psychologically Liverpool was a long game - 120 minutes drains you. But when you go through, it's almost like pre-season - you don't feel fatigue. You feel good and you are looking forward to the next game."
