WEST HAM must have thought the battle to keep Dimitri Payet was over in August.
Payet's stunning first season in English football, followed by an even more impressive summer at Euro 2016 with France, was bound to attract attention.
However, the 29-year-old's age, his long-term Hammers contract, huge price-tag, late career development and lack of sell-on value all factored in deterring Europe's elite clubs from making strong approaches.
Slaven Bilic is probably still pinching himself about the coup £10.7m signing, but he would have been even more surprised only Paris Saint-Germain bothered enquiring in the summer.
Since the start of the season though, on and off the field problems at West Ham have put the Ballon d'Or nominee's future in east London in doubt.
Payet has refused to close the door on anything in various French interviews during the Hammers' below par debut campaign at the London Stadium.
And his own dedication to the cause at West Ham has been questioned by some, despite still shining as the top creator of chances in Europe.
West Ham's failure to land a top striker in the summer to make use of Payet's talent has no doubt left him feeling frustrated, and nobody can blame him for wanting to play at the very top level in the prime of his career.
But it was only in February that the Frenchman signed a five-and-a-half year contract to commit to the club.
Now though, a decision appears to be edging nearer, and if Payet doesn't leave West Ham in 2017, it would be difficult to see him ever making that big jump.
Express Sport, based on those sides who have been linked with him, we look at how the ex-Marseille man should decide his future…
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West Ham:
The first option for Payet would be to simply stay at West Ham.
There are many positives from making this choice, although, plenty relies on the club trying to match his high standards.
Bilic is not afraid and makes no secret of saying the France star is his best player, and West Ham's play continues to circle around Payet, even when he's not at his best on the day.
However, the lack of a striker similar in quality to Payet makes his work doubly difficult, and the man who turns 30 in March can't carry the team in attack forever.
Bringing his international team-mate Alexandre Lacazette in during the summer would have created a dream partnership, but West Ham cannot attract the top calibre of European talent so easily, even with their move to a brand new 60,000-seater stadium.
In doing all they can to keep Payet, the Hammers must bring him support. Otherwise, he will continue to cut a more and more frustrated figure in a West Ham shirt.
The divide in opinion is growing between fans of feeling sorry for their current hero and believing the club should cut their losses and let him leave.
But if Payet shows he will fight at the 13th-placed side, stops hinting at a transfer and brings West Ham back into European contention over the next couple of years, he will be able to class himself a club legend on par with Paolo Di Canio and co. - and that may prove more appealing to look back on at the end of his career then any big move.
Arsenal or Manchester United:
Should Payet opt against West Ham and force an exit in either January or next summer, there will be sides waiting.
Despite the Hammers' resistance to sell, somewhere around £35-40m is likely to be enough if he really wishes to go.
Even with the aforementioned drawbacks to signing Payet, top Premier League clubs will know they are getting someone who has proven they can cut it in England.
In his first season at West Ham, the man who had previously played only in Ligue 1 stepped up to the plate and was named in the PFA Team of the Year.
Arsenal and Manchester United are reportedly the most interested, with Payet admitting recently it would be "fun" to play for the Gunners and Jose Mourinho said to be a big fan at Old Trafford.
However, he cannot simply look at those sides as a step up and back into the Champions League without assessing where he would fit.
Payet cannot afford to make a move and become a bench player due to his age and determination to remain in the picture for France under Didier Deschamps - which shining at West Ham has seen him achieve.
At United, he would face competition long-term from potentially three players - international colleague Anthony Martial, young prodigy Marcus Rashford and winger Jesse Lingard.
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Payet has largely featured on the left side of attacking midfield for both West Ham and France, and that area is very crowded in Mourinho's squad.
Playing down the centre is definitely feasible, but Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba can all do that too - perhaps making United a risky option, despite his undoubted talent and admiration for Old Trafford.
Arsenal have far less competition for a place at left-wing for Payet, especially since Alexis Sanchez's shift to striker.
The Frenchman would be suited to the Gunners' style, as he is allowed to get on the ball often while not being demanded to defend as much.
He would be above both Alex Iwobi and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the pecking order, and with Mesut Ozil beside him, Arsenal appear his best choice for a move in England.
However, Arsenal have their own future issues to contend with, as Ozil and Sanchez may yet leave by the summer.
If that happens, the pressure on Payet to deliver consistently at such a top club could prove too much, especially if Wenger can't replace them properly.
A a result, a patient wait until the summer may ensue for Payet to see what the situation would be at the Emirates.
Marseille:
Finally, with PSG having dropped their interest at the Parc des Princes and Julian Draxler now signed, only a return to former club Marseille would be feasible.
West Ham were able to land Payet in the first place due to Marseille's financial difficulties which has also seen them lose Michy Batshuayi to Chelsea.
But they are more stable now and making a recovery in Ligue 1, although Champions League qualification still appears beyond their current capabilities.
Payet has a strong affiliation with Marseille from his two years spent there where his talent truly began to be recognised.
His wages and fee could be a big issue though, even with the French side no longer in turmoil.
And if Payet has a desire to go back and be hailed a legend at Marseille, why not stay and achieve the same feat at West Ham?
Reflecting on all his options and what is realistic for the playmaker, Payet must be careful in taking a step backwards.
A move to either United, Arsenal or Marseille is not guaranteed - shown by the fact nobody really tried to sign him in the summer.
West Ham did well to tie him down to a massive contract worth £125,000 a week, and another pay rise can be earned if he continues to flourish.
It's difficult to predict how many more years Payet has at the top of his game.
With his future very settled at West Ham, that would be the safe option to commit, but it depends how driven he is to play Champions League football before it's too late and how optimistic he feels about the Hammers' potential gong forward.
Time will tell, and January may prove too soon for either Payet or West Ham, but a proper decision by the summer will eventually show everyone what the Frenchman truly wants.