Dimitri Payet to West Ham: Hammers close in on Marseille forward after making 'improved £14m bid' for France international

Reports suggest that the Hammers are closing in on their second signing of the summer

Payet has made 15 appearances for France since his debut in 2010 (Getty Images)

West Ham are confident of getting their man after making a second bid of around £14m for Marseille forward Dimitri Payet.

On the day that the Hammers found out that they will face Andorran side FC Lusitanos in the Europa League first qualifying round, reports emerged claiming that the club are closing in on the France international after upping their original offer, which was rejected by the Ligue 1 club.

With The Guardian reporting that Payet is keen on leaving the south of France in order to face a new challenge, the east London club look to be favourites to secure his signature, and Marseille’s failure to qualify for the Champions league is having a huge effect on their squad.

A clause that meant failure to reach Europe’s elite competition means that the players will suffer an automatic wage drop, with Payet currently facing a £12,000-a-week loss should he stay at the Stade Vélodrome.

However, with Andre Ayew already confirmed as a Swansea player for the upcoming season and striker André-Pierre Gignac making the surprising move to Mexico to join Tigres, Payet looks set to be the third big name to leave the French club this summer.

The report adds that Payet has been offered a four-year £70,000-a-week contract in the hope that he will choose Upton Park over any over potential suitors, with Premier League side Everton also believed to be interested in the 28-year-old.

With the Hammers already securing of Spain Under-21 striker Pedro Obiang, the club are wasting little time in launching the recruitment drive that was promised in order to lure new manager Slaven Bilic to the club to replace Sam Allardyce after his contract expired.

Marseille forward Dimitri Payet is close to joining West Ham (Getty Images)

It’s also believed that the club remains interested in making the loan deal for Barcelona’s Alex Song permanent, although the hierarchy at Upton Park are not currently willing to meet the Catalan’s £5m valuation of the former Arsenal midfielder.