West Ham have been offered the chance of a shock reunion with Dimitri Payet less than two years after selling the France forward to Marseille in acrimonious circumstances.

Payet’s representatives have asked West Ham, who expect to announce the signing of Jack Wilshere on a free transfer on Friday, whether they would be interested in signing him. The offer has come as a surprise to the London club given the manner of the Frenchman’s departure in January 2017, but it is understood they are exploring whether a deal would be viable. One consideration is how supporters would react, and it is likely that Marseille would ask for more than the £25m they paid to bring Payet back to the Stade Vélodrome.

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Manuel Pellegrini wants to add more flair to his new side’s attack and the manager has sought advice from senior players about Payet. It is understood that he received a favourable response. Payet, meanwhile, has been in contact with some of his old teammates this week.

The 31-year-old became a huge favourite with West Ham’s supporters after his £10.7m from Marseille in the summer of 2015. His performances in West Ham’s final season at Upton Park were a major factor in Slaven Bilic’s side finishing seventh and qualifying for the Europa League.

Yet his relationship with the club deteriorated during the following season, even though he was handed a lucrative five-year deal in February 2016, and he caused outrage by asking for a transfer while West Ham were battling against relegation. Payet ended up rejoining Marseille and David Sullivan, West Ham’s co-owner, accused him of betrayal. The player hit back by saying he was bored playing for a struggling team.

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That bitter history would make this one of the most unlikely transfers of the summer, while Pellegrini’s main consideration will be whether Payet’s old magic remains intact. He was expected to be included in France’s World Cup squad before sustaining a hamstring injury.

Celta Vigo have become the latest club to express interest in Dundee’s former England centre-half Steven Caulker.

The defender, who moved to Dens Park in February following his release from Queens Park Rangers, benefited from regular game-time in Scotland and played an integral part as Dundee pulled clear of the top-flight relegation places. The 26-year-old impressed over his 12 games, prompting a bid of around £2m from Rosenborg, before the closure of Norway’s transfer window in April. That offer was rejected.

Caulker, who scored on his England debut in a friendly against Sweden in 2012, has attracted interest from Championship clubs this summer, though no bid has been lodged as potential suitors seek to shift players before they recruit. With that in mind, Celta Viga have sensed an opportunity.

The Spanish club, Europa League semi-finalists in 2017, finished 13th in La Liga last season and go into the new campaign under the Argentinian Antonio Mohamed, who signed a two-year deal as manager after joining from Monterrey in May.