West Ham feel 'cheated' they only got £25m for Dimitri Payet from Marseille, says David Gold

Joint-chairman David Gold believes West Ham are entitled to feel “cheated” for only getting £25million from Marseille for Dimitri Payet.

The French international forced a return to the Ligue 1 side after just 18 months at West Ham by going on strike during the January window, West Ham ultimately making over £14m in profit on a player who turns 30 next month.

However £25m was significantly less than the value West Ham had put on Payet after his spectacular debut season in the Premier League – where he was nominated for PFA Player of the Year – and his stellar Euro 2016.

Joint-chairman David Sullivan is believed to have placed a £100m tag on Payet in the summer and his colleague Gold insisted that his only regret from the window was the financial shortfall on West Ham’s star player.

"My only regret I suppose is that he was sold for £25m and I think he was worth more," he told Sky Sports News HQ.

"I think in an open market he would have fetched £30-35m. I think the fans feel a bit cheated and that they didn't get full value.

"He insisted on only going to Marseille. It was one club bidding, so that depressed the price. It was £25m instead of maybe £35m.

"I don't think he handled it very well. Does anybody? I suppose the answer is we are disappointed but we have to move on. There is life after Dimitri Payet."

West Ham invested their Payet earnings wisely, bringing in veteran Southampton centre-back Jose Fonte and Hull winger Robert Snodgrass for a combined fee of less than £20m.

"David Sullivan, me, Slaven, we prefer English players or players who have experience of the Premier League," Gold added.

"That's why we have just recently moved for two players [Fonte and Snodgrass] with tremendous pedigree."