Sakho still committed to leaving Hammers

Cape Town - Diafra Sakho remains committed to leaving West Ham United after seeing a move to Rennes collapse on transfer Deadline Day.

The 27-year-old Senegalese international joined the Hammers from Ligue 1 side Metz on a four-year deal in 2014.

After a bright start to his English career, injuries limited Sakho to just 26 appearances in his first season and 24 the following year.

Last term though, he played just four times as a result of a combination of back and hamstring injuries.

He had looked set to join French side Rennes before the start of the current campaign but reportedly failed the club's medical.

And speaking to French journalist Claude Atcheba, Sakho said: "I still want to leave.

"I always say it. I don't hide it. Whether the fans are happy or not, I want to change my environment. I want to see something else in regard to everything that happened to me. I spent three wonderful years at West Ham.

"Even more I learned that I was the best goal-scorer in activity in regards of all games I played. I can only be happy but overall I want to change my environment to see other things, and I think going to France would be good to find a challenge for my career.

"And why not one day come back here or somewhere else but today I want to change my environment."

He added: "I just went to the medicals, to see the club, other people. I think both clubs agreed that I go to do the medicals but after maybe there was not enough time for West Ham to allow me to go because they could not find a substitute.

"That's normal. After I understood and I came back here. But that didn't change my desire to leave."