Dimitri Payet is refusing to play for West Ham’s Under-23s as he edges closer to a move away from the club, the Mail claim.
The French winger wants to leave the Hammers, who have already rejected three bids from his former club Marseille.
Reports on Thursday suggested Payet had agreed personal terms and a four-and-a-half year deal with the Ligue 1 side.
The Mail say Payet, who has been training with West Ham’s development squad since asking to leave, will not play for them in Friday’s game against Aston Villa.
But the report adds the Hammers are also not keen on risking the 29-year-old France international in the Premier League 2 match, knowing an injury could scupper any potential deal and leave them with an unhappy player for the rest of the season.
Payet has also not been invited to a winter training camp the club have organised in Dubai next month, the newspaper claims.
West Ham have won back-to-back matches, over Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough, since Payet told boss Slaven Bilic that he wanted to leave and would not play for the first team.
The club also remain keen to sign striker Scott Hogan from Brentford ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.