Noble 'would be shocked' if Payet left West Ham in January
Mark Noble views Dimitri Payet as invaluable to under-performing West Ham United, and "would be shocked" if the French set-piece specialist left Stratford in the January transfer window.
Although the Irons are languishing in 13th place, Payet has played more key passes (63) than any other Premier League player after starring for France at Euro 2016 over the summer. His performances have led to interest from various clubs - in addition to Payet himself telling RMC that he'd be open to returning to Olympique Marseille - but Noble is confident the 29-year-old will stick around.
"You never know what happens in football," Noble told Sky Sports. "I'm pretty sure Dimi doesn't want to come out and say too much or whatever he has said has been twisted a little bit, even though he has said it.
"I would be shocked if I see him go before the end of January. I'm pretty sure it would have to be a healthy bid to get him away from us.
"Can we afford to lose him? No, not really, because it has been proven he is one of the best players in the world at the minute."
Instead, wholesale changes are expected in West Ham's frontline during the January transfer window. Loanee Simone Zaza will potentially be sent back to Juventus, and West Ham is apparently eyeing ambitious temporary deals for Manchester United pair Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford.
West Ham has two away dates before the end of 2016, with a trip to Swansea City on Boxing Day and Leicester City on New Year's Eve.