West Ham winger Sofiane Feghouli has admitted that he held discussions over a potential transfer away from the club in the January transfer window.
Algerian right midfielder Feghouli joined the Hammers on a free transfer from Spanish side Valencia, but failed to impress during the first half of the season.
However, the 44-time-capped international’s form improved in 2017 as he scored three goals and contributed two assists from the turn of the year, in comparison to just a solitary assist in 2016.
However, the 27-year-old admits that West Ham had a number of offers for his signature in the winter transfer window, but it was manager Slaven Bilic who convinced him to remain at the London Stadium.
He told Algerian football news website Competition.dz: “During the winter transfer window, I had a lot of offers.
“The coach reassured me, assuring me that I should not leave and that he was counting on me.”
West Ham fans might be thinking that the likes of Andre Ayew, Michail Antonio and Manuel Lanzini would be better options for Bilic in the starting XI, but Feghouli insists that he has been adapting to the English game and that his best is still yet to come.
“I have not demonstrated what I was worth,” he told Competition.dz.
“It was a new challenge with a new style of football that I discovered. It’s a year where I have learned a lot and will definitely be used for next season.”
The midfielder rounded off the season in good form, hitting home an equaliser away to Burnley which helped the Hammers on the way to a 2-1 win and a 12th placed finish.