Manchester City are set to renew their interest in West Ham playmaker Lucas Paquetá, according to Football Insider.
The website claims that Pep Guardiola has set his sights on the Brazilian midfielder he narrowly missed out on two years ago. Paquetá was on the verge of joining City before news broke of the FA’s investigation into suspicious betting patterns surrounding several yellow cards.
At the time, the Manchester club were expected to trigger Paquetá’s £85 million release clause but withdrew their interest once the investigation was made public.
Now, Football Insider are suggesting the deal could be back on, with City continuing their ambitious summer recruitment drive.
Before anyone gets too concerned, it’s worth noting that Mick Brown—speaking on the same platform this week—claimed West Ham could accept £30 million for Paquetá. That figure is simply not accurate.
Graham Potter in no rush to sell our record signing and certainly wouldn’t consider parting with him for anything close to that amount.
A source close to the player told Claret & Hugh earlier this week that Paquetá is more than happy to remain at the London Stadium and is not pushing for a move.
It would be extremely predictable that after supporting the bloke though thin and thinner for over the past 2 gruelling years through his hell and having understandably witnessed his form drop at the same rate as his happiness, that the club are forced to accept a low ball offer from Manchester City. A club that has yet to prove any innocence about its own financial and fair play conduct. We don’t deserve this as people. At least give those that have helped him a modicum of respect and dignity. Don’t just allow money bags clubs to pile in while the chips are down and steal the man on the cheap. Talk about tread us down in the dirt FFS.
If they do, they better bring a truck/Lorry load full of cash.
To the tune of 80mil or they can drive back up the M1
I think Paqueta may be better off staying where he is, at least for the coming season. Not sure he will get the game time at City, but his value will be theirs instead of ours. Pep is shrewd and ruthless, not sentimental.
I have a feeling this for now is just paper talk to get clicks but if they did come in we will be in trouble as he longs to play in a side manged by Pep guess we shall see wont we
Perhaps we could get Mcatee in the deal?
We know they’ll accept less than £60m for Paqueta. They said 65 for for Mo Judus, no less and sold less. But if they really want to then West Ham need to push to include McAtee in a deal. McAtee plus £25m minimum and I might be tempted.