West Ham striker target Martin Braithwaite has handed Slaven Bilic a transfer blow by committing his immediate future to Ligue 1 side Toulouse.
The Hammers offered £2.5million for Braithwaite this summer, the 25-year-old even travelling to England for extra coaching sessions in preparation for a move to the Premier League.
Braithwaite worked with specialist striker coach Allan Russell, a man who has helped West Brom's Saido Berahino and Andre Gray of Burnley to improve their technique, but is now staying in France for the season ahead. He scored 14 goals last season to help Toulouse avoid relegation.
West Ham made a £2.5m bid to sign Toulouse forward Martin Braithwaite this summer
The 25-year-old has since decided to remain in Ligue 1 for at least another season
BRAITHWAITE LEAGUE STATS 2015/16
Appearances: 36
Goals: 11
Shot accuracy: 48 per cent
Chances created: 24
Pass accuracy: 79 per cent
Duels won: 47 per cent
Yellow/red cards: 1/0
Braithwaite ended the last campaign with a bang and also scored twice as Toulouse downed Bordeaux 4-1 at the weekend. But although he won't be going anywhere for now, the striker retains an ambition to play at the highest level.
'There have been a lot of rumours, and some of them are true,' he told Omnisport.
'There have been some offers but they haven't been good enough for the club to sell me, or anything good enough in my eyes to make me push to go.
I want to stay in Toulouse one more year because we have something really nice going on. I think we're in for a great season.
'This is a big city and it's a nice city in France and we have so much unfulfilled potential that I feel we can accomplish this season.
'I'm sure we have a big season ahead.'
Braithwaite's displays at the end of last season have seen him named Toulouse club captain. His goal against Angers to keep his team in the league won't be forgotten in a hurry but as for the future, the player remains keen not to rule anything out.
Braithwaite, who scored 14 goals for last season, celebrates his strike against Bordeaux
Michail Antonio (centre) got West Ham off to a winning start at the Olympic Stadium
Crystal Palace, Sunderland and Hull were also interested in Braithwaite but with West Ham keen on signing a new forward following injuries to Andre Ayew and Andy Carroll, his latest comments will come as a disappointment to those at London Stadium.
'I don't have any specific clubs in mind but I want to play with the best,' Braithwaite said. 'I want to play for some of the biggest teams in the world, that's my main dream. I know I will reach it because I have a lot of confidence and I know I put the necessary work into it every day. I know if I put in the work then I will get there.
'You have to be patient in life and take that small step every day.
'You don't get to the top of the stairs in one day. If you take those small steps, then one day you will end up where you want to be.'
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