Chelsea are ready to become the first Premier League club to make a move in the battle to sign on-strike West Ham United star Dimitri Payet.
Blues boss Antonio Conte is reportedly set to spend big in a bid to lure the 29-year-old to Stamford Bridge, according to the "?Sun, after the Hammers were left reeling by Thursday's revelation.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic told reporters that Payet was refusing to play for the club after a reported £20m offer from the Frenchman's former side, Marseille, was rejected by the Londoners - a move that has led Payet to going on strike.
Despite Bilic's assertions that West Ham will not sell their key playmaker, Chelsea has now sensed an opportunity to raid the club for Payet and believe they can sway him into making the jump across the capital to join their Premier League title bid.
Conte is keen to bolster his first-team squad as the Blues attempt to maintain their five-point lead at the top of the league table heading into the second half of the season, and the Italian is alleged to have already missed out on his number one target for the January transfer window.
Conte had hoped to prise Arturo Vidal away from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich in an apparent £38m bid, but attentions have swiftly turned to Payet after Bilic's comments and
the German side's refusal to sell the Chile international.
To succeed you need players who play with passion, who enjoy playing for their club, no need to punish @dimpayet17 he wants to go. @whufc
Payet only signed a new club-record £125,000-a-week contract at the London Stadium in the summer after enjoying a sensational maiden campaign at West Ham. The France international notched 15 goals and 17 assists in all competitions as he took England's top flight by storm following his £10m July 2015 switch.
Things have not been as rosy for Payet this term, however, after a remarkable Euro 2016 tournament for the forward. A slight knock delayed his start to the season, and the winger has been playing catch up, in terms of form, ever since.
That West Ham have endured a torrid first half of the 2016/17 campaign - they currently lie in 13th position in the Premier League - has not helped Payet discover his best form for the club, with just three goals and eight assists chalked up in 22 games this season.
After rumours appeared to suggest a "?breakdown in his relationship with Bilic on January 5, the Irons boss has now confirmed West Ham fans' worst fears with the news that Payet no longer has the desire to play for his current employers.
"?Speaking on Thursday, Bilic said: "Let's get serious. I have a situation with a player. It is Dimitri Payet. He wants to leave. We are not going to sell him. We have said we don't want to sell our best players but Payet does not want to play for us.
"It started 10 days ago when the window started. I spoke to the chairman and this is not a money issue. We gave him a long contract because we want him to stay. This team, the staff, we gave him everything, we were always there for him. I feel let down. I feel angry."?
Read more from Tom Power by "?following him on Twitter!