David Gold: 'My only regret about selling Dimitri Payet was the price'

Dimitri Payet of West Ham United celebrates scoring his second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Newcastle United at the Boleyn Ground on September 14, 2015 in London, United Kingdom.
© Getty Images
West Ham United co-owner David Gold says his only regret about offloading Dimitri Payet to Marseille was that he feels the price was too low.

West Ham United co-owner David Gold has claimed that his only regret about selling Dimitri Payet was the transfer fee.

Marseille paid £25m to take their former player back to France last month, after the midfielder effectively went on strike and demanded a move home.

Gold insists that the value is well short of Les Bleus squad member's real worth, but that they were hamstrung in the January window.

"My only regret I suppose is that he was sold for £25m and I think he was worth more," the 80-year-old businessman told Sky Sports News.

"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."

Payet excelled in his first season in the Premier League, scoring 12 goals and earning a nomination for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, but netted only three goals from September to December last year.

Dimitri Payet of West Ham United celebrates scoring his second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Newcastle United at the Boleyn Ground on September 14, 2015 in London, United Kingdom.
Read Next:
David Gold: 'Dimitri Payet worth £50m'
>


Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Chelsea25193352183460
2Manchester CityMan City25164551292252
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs25148346182850
4Arsenal25155554282650
5Liverpool25147454302449
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd25139338211748
7Everton25118640271341
8West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom2510783431337
9Stoke CityStoke258893036-632
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham2595113443-932
11Southampton2586112831-330
12Burnley2593132736-930
13Watford2586112942-1330
14Bournemouth2575133549-1426
15Swansea CitySwansea2573153154-2324
16Middlesbrough25410111927-822
17Leicester CityLeicester2556142443-1921
18Hull City2555152249-2720
19Crystal Palace2554163246-1419
20Sunderland2554162446-2219