West Ham United are ready to cash in on Lucas Paqueta this summer – two years after missing out on an £80million payday when the FA’s investigation thwarted his big-money move to Manchester City.
Paqueta had been considered untouchable to potential suitors with the spot-fixing charges hanging over him which could have robbed him of his entire career.
But Mail Sport has learned the Hammers are open to letting Paqueta leave for less than half of that old £80m valuation now that he is in line to be found innocent of picking up yellow cards on purpose in Premier League fixtures to influence betting outcomes.
It is believed a bid in the region of £30m in this window could be enough to convince the Hammers to part with their Brazilian star.
Paqueta’s former club Flamengo are among those who have been interested in the 27-year-old.
Their sporting director Jose Boto told Mail Sport during their Club World Cup campaign last month that they are targeting European experience, having brought in Jorginho from Arsenal earlier this summer.
West Ham are prepared to allow Lucas Paqueta to leave the club this summer
The Brazilian had been set to join Man City in the summer of 2023 before an FA investigation into spot-fixing nixed the move
The Hammers would be willing to listen to offers of around £30million for the 27-year-old
Flamengo have been waiting to discover whether Paqueta was deemed guilty by the independent panel who tried his FA case, though they are not alone in that regard.
The attacking midfielder is expected to attract several suitors after yesterday’s news that he is set to be found innocent. Official confirmation has not yet come from the FA.
City’s interest in Paqueta came when he was at the peak of his powers, having played the pass that set up Jarrod Bowen to win them the 2023 Conference League final in Prague.
Paqueta’s current contract expires in 2027, though West Ham do hold the option of tying him down for an additional year. They signed him for £51m from Lyon in 2022.
