West Ham defender Jean-Clair Todibo has scotched rumours he wants to leave the club.
The on-loan Nice centre-back reportedly had a dressing-room bust-up with boss Julen Lopetegui at half-time during the recent 5-2 defeat by Arsenal.
Todibo has not been able to nail down a regular place in the Hammers’ backline but came on as a half-time substitute during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brighton.
Afterwards, in a reply to a supporter on Instagram, the 24-year-old wrote: “I’m not gonna leave big man. West Ham are massive!! Don’t believe the media.”
Mohammed Kudus secured a point for West Ham after Mats Wieffer fired Brighton ahead.
But the pressure is still on Lopetegui and the Boxing Day trip to basement club Southampton could prove pivotal for his future.
Brighton have tailed off slightly following their flying start to the season and are now without a win in five matches.
“At the moment it’s a circle of bad experiences,” said boss Fabian Hurzeler. “But no-one will help us, we have to work ourselves to get back this winning mentality.
“We have to learn to be more mature when we take the lead and manage the game.
“But we will keep going, invest more in the detail and get back to a high standard by doing the basic things better. We have to keep moving forward. These things happen in waves, we have to catch a forward wave.”