West Ham concede Dimitri Payet stand-off is a ‘lose-lose situation’ and will fine wantaway star for breach of contract

West Ham today described Dimitri Payet’s refusal to play for the club again as a “lose-lose situation”.

The 29-year-old France international has told West Ham that he will never play for them after they refused to sanction a move back to Marseille, who he left in the summer of 2015.

Reports in French sports newspaper L’Equipe today say that the 29-year-old Payet has agreed personal terms with Marseille, while there is further speculation in France that West Ham have rejected a £19.1million offer for the player.

The bid is also said to include a further £2.6m in add-ons.

Meanwhile, an angry West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has responded by telling Payet, who yesterday reported a back injury, that he will not be allowed to train with the first-team squad until his attitude changes.

The France forward was photographed leaving the ground in a Ferrari after training yesterday, following Bilic’s bombshell press conference when he revealed the rift.

The club can continue to fine the player up to two weeks’ wages, around £250,000, every time he is in breach of his contract and refuses to play.

West Ham are adamant that Payet, who joined West Ham for £11m, is not for sale and a reliable club source said today: “This is a lose-lose situation for the club.”

The report in L’Equipe says that Payet has spoken to Marseille president Jacques Henri Eyraud several times over the past two months and that the player has also had “multiple” conversations with manager Rudi Garcia.

In an interview with French broadcaster RTL, which will be shown in full on Sunday, Garcia is quoted as saying: “You are talking to me about Dimitri Payet and obviously I would take him here every day of the week.”

Meanwhile, Marseille player William Vainqueur said: “All the players are dreaming of a Payet return. It would be extraordinary.”

Bilic, meanwhile, is preparing for a vital derby tomorrow against Crystal Palace without Payet and there are reports that his team-mates had become increasingly frustrated by the player’s attitude in recent months.

Payet, who has also been quoted in France as saying that his family are unsettled in London, remains adamant he has played his last game for West Ham.

The club must now decide whether to dig in their heels and make Payet stay, at least until the end of the season, or cash in during the January transfer window and spend at least some of the money on strengthening their squad.

They have already had an offer of £3m for Hull’s Robert Snodgrass rejected but look likely now to go back with an improved bid.

Also on West Ham’s radar is Southampton’s experienced Portuguese international defender Jose Fonte, who has been left out of the South Coast club’s first team after submitting a transfer request.