Swansea man would be perfect fit if Payet leaves West Ham

It might not be something we have to worry about, but the signs are there. West Ham may have to come to terms with life without Dimitri Payet.

I know, it’s not a nice thought. Since joining West Ham the Frenchman has taken his game to new levels. Unfortunately the team’s performances this year have not lived up to that level. And Payet’s head has seemingly been turned.

The main question that has been running over the fanbase is who would replace him. If it was Real Madrid or Manchester United that went after Payet, then fans were after a player in return as well as cash. Names such as Anthony Martial, Juan Mata, Isco or James Rodriguez have all been mentioned.

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But if they’re not willing, or another club swoops, there is a Premier League replacement ready. Someone who would take Payet’s place well. Plus, chances are, he’d come pretty cheap.

Gylfi Sigurdsson

The Icelandic playmaker first made a name for himself at Swansea on loan from 1899 Hoffenheim. From there he made a permanent move to Tottenham for 2 seasons, before joining his former loan club Swansea when it became clear the North London side did not want to keep him on. Something current manager Pochettino wishes he could change.

At 27 he is two years younger than Payet, and he could fit in well. Obviously he has not reached World Class status, but his strengths match those of the Frenchman.

Creativity is where they both reign supreme, with incisive and ambitious passes often finding their target. On set pieces they both have strong records, with the Icelandic man arguably making up on indirect set pieces what he loses to Payet on the direct freekicks.

Add his talents to the fact Sigurdsson has strong Premier League history, and he’d be a perfect fit. Could West Ham pull off such a move?

The Cost

Despite his importance to the club, Swansea would have to part with Sigurdsson for less than the Hammers would get from the sale of Payet. They are not in the strongest financial position, and their league position isn’t great either.

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If Swansea don’t improve in the coming weeks, they are looking likely to go down. After spending big on some transfers in the summer, this could be bad for the club. Selling Sigurdsson isn’t a great thing in a football sense, but it would help them financially. The Hammers could do a lot worse than looking to Wales for a Payet replacement.