West Ham’s midfielder, Lucas Paqueta, is reportedly attracting interest from Manchester City for the upcoming summer transfer window, as reported by sources from Football Insider. In efforts to secure the 26-year-old last summer, City had a proposed £80 million deal in place, however, the move was halted due to a betting breach investigation involving Paqueta.
Recent reports indicate that both West Ham and Manchester City are eagerly awaiting the conclusion of the investigation. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Paqueta’s future, it is understood that Pep Guardiola’s team remains keen on acquiring the Brazilian international.
Sources close to Football Insider have revealed that West Ham is open to accepting a suitable offer for Paqueta, in line with the club’s valuation of the player. The potential departure of the midfielder is not dependent on the contractual status of West Ham’s manager, David Moyes, whose current deal is due to expire at the end of the season.
Paqueta, currently sidelined with a calf injury, has been absent during West Ham’s winless streak since he was injured in a match against Bristol City last month. Despite this setback, Paqueta has made a significant impact for the team, contributing five goals and six assists in 27 appearances across all competitions in the 2023-24 season.
The Brazilian playmaker, who has been capped 42 times by his national team, is under contract with West Ham until June 2027, having joined the club in 2022 for a reported club-record fee of £51 million.
In related news, West Ham is preparing for a potential bidding war with Manchester United over one of their defenders. For further exclusive news and updates on West Ham, please stay connected with us on Facebook or join our new WhatsApp Channel to receive instant alerts directly to your phone.