Newcastle United are willing to smash their transfer record in a mega bid for Hammers star Lucas Paqueta.
Numerous reports are circulating in the North East press that the Toon have set their sights on the Brazilian. This is following a failed attempt to lure James Maddison, who is Tottenham bound.
As a result Eddie Howe’s men have turned their attention to West Ham’s record signing. The Hammers have no desire to sell but nothing can be ruled out at this stage.
Newcastle have been on the lookout for a new creative midfielder, having secured Champions League football for next season. One of Paqueta’s best mates in the game is Newcastle and former Lyon player Bruno Guimarães. As well as playing together at club level the two have also played alongside each other for Brazil.
Quite frankly this is an unwelcome piece of transfer gossip. West Ham already have enough to contend with whilst negotiating Declan Rice‘s departure. Hopefully the Hammers will reject all unwelcome advances, but whether that deters Newcastle is another matter.
Newcastle United are planning a mega bid for Hammers star Lucas Paqueta.
Backed by Saudi money, the Magpies are stinking rich and intent on making a big impression next season. For that they’ll need a big squad, and they’re more than happy to poach rival teams best players.
If Newcastle are serious about breaking their own transfer record a bid could prove tempting. Last season they spent nearly £70m on Alexander Isak and anything above that would mean a big profit on Paqueta.
I sincerely hope we’re not tempted to sell a player who has just started to settle. Should West Ham sell Paqueta AND Declan Rice then the moniker of ‘selling club’ would be hard to shift.
Now that is a real danger for us – if we are prepared to sell a planned purchase after one season to a wedged up Newcastle, then surely we are accepting that we are a lower level club, no ambition.
This is where having good recruitment would help. I *would* say sell him at 70m and bring in another 40-50m midfielder to replace him, but I am just not confident that we would know where to find one!
No. End of.