This summer is without doubt going to be the ‘long goodbye’ for many WestHam players whether it be those out of contract, ending loans or quitting the club having been sold to raise transfer funds. What is clear is that wholesale change is planned to tear down and rebuild a midfield that couldn’t run and a porous defence: Plus of course a couple of strikers need to be added to the ranks.
Already- wrongly as it turns out – rumoured to be leaving for Brazil on loan,(which our senior West Ham source rubbished yesterday) news stories continue regarding Lucas Paquetá leaving West Ham in the summer. Fichajes.net, which made some pretty shrewd forecasts last summer has news that the interest in signing Lucas Paquetá from 2023 will be rekindled this summer from Manchester City.
Of course, until the FA inquiry is resolved and the verdict published everything is fluid. Their article ” Paquetá, Manchester City’s target” sets out a far more likely scenario given that West Ham will not countenance a loan for their Brazilian number 10 and will look to recoup as much as possible of the once-offered £80 million deal before the FA screwed that up.
As they write:
“Beyond his technical skill, he has gained in consistency, leadership and tactical commitment, becoming a total soccer player. These qualities have been valued very positively by the City’s sports management, which is already analyzing the feasibility of an operation to incorporate it in the next summer window.”
Whilst some would take issue with ‘consistency and leadership’ having watched him perform at West Ham this season, few can doubt his ability and equally could not blame Paquetá for signing on the line to finally get his dream move. It would also go a long way to fund West Ham’s squad rebuild so it may well be time to bid adieu to Paq-man as soon as the ‘FA innocent’ verdict drops -as many now believe will be the case- in early June.
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City and Pep have been on the blower to Paq, methinks. “show us what yer got between (a month ago?) and season’s end”