The ​Mail Online is reporting that West Ham have agreed to the £12m signing of Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet. The Hammers could be forced to ship out Stewart Downing as a result, with Sunderland reportedly interested in signing the former Liverpool man. ​





The transfer window is already a melting pot of rumours and agreed deals, with Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea already fairly active, it looks as if West Ham are set to join in.





Their participation in next seasons Europa League will require a fully bolstered squad. Marseille offered Payet an improved contract in an effort to keep him with the club, however his family wanted the move to London, opening the door for the Hammers to capitalise with the signing of the 28-year-old Frenchman.





Dimitri Payet was set to take a significant wage cut after Marseille failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, and the club attempted in vain to keep him at the Stade Velodrome with advanced talks. However, it now looks like Payet will be kicking off the new season in the claret of West Ham.





Payet is usually deployed as a winger, but can also be used as an attacking midfielder, his main weapon is his pace, technique and dribbling. Overall, Payet scored 15 goals and assisted 29 in 83 games for Marseille.

Will be really impressed if West Ham can pull off the Payet deal. French press saying the offer's too good to refuse. pic.twitter.com/PmlYuNrkOP — Arsène's Son (@hughwizzy) June 24, 2015

In other news, it has been reported that Sunderland are stepping up their efforts to sign West Ham's Stewart Downing, after their initial £5m bid was rejected by the Hammers earlier this week. Downing was briefly on loan at the Black Cats in 2003, and current Sunderland boss Dick Advocaat is keen on bringing Downing back to the Stadium of Light.



















