Bilic: Keeping Payet shows our intentions

West Ham manager Slaven Bilic believes that keeping Dimitri Payet at the club is a clear indication of the east London outfit’s intentions for the new season.

French international Payet enjoyed a fine season for the Hammers and was one of the stars of Euro 2016 which has led to him being linked with a big money transfer away from the club.

However, West Ham have retained his services as they begin life in their new 60,000 capacity home at the Olympic Stadium in Stratford and Bilic believes that this shows that the club are ready to step up to the next level.

"In keeping Dimitri Payet we have shown the club is serious and trying to get to another level, as much or even more than with the new stadium," he explained.

"West Ham was always labelled as a club that has to sell its best players, be it Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand or whoever. But we have kept Dimi, and we have shown to everyone that the club is thinking seriously."

Bilic has also brought in Algeria winger Sofiane Feghouli, Norway midfielder Havard Nordtveit and striker Andre Ayew from Swansea ahead of the new season and believes that the Ghanaian international will have a major impact in the coming campaign.

Ayew netted 12 times for Swansea last season before seasling a club-record £20.5m move to east London.

"First and foremost he was (previously) at a big club at Marseille," Bilic pointed out.

"He's an international, he's the captain of Ghana, he's at his best age and he's already had a year in the Premier League so it's nothing new to him.

"Players today make you feel at home after just a few days so I'm sure we can expect some good football from the newcomers straight away."

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