West Ham: Anton Ferdinand makes Lucas Paqueta admission in Manchester City transfer verdict
West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta is better than Tottenham and England star James Maddison, according to Anton Ferdinand.
The Brazilian has been in fine form for David Moyes’ side this season when fit, scoring three goals in the Premier League and laying on five assists for his teammates to help the Hammers climb to seventh in the table.
While Ferdinand was quick to admit that he is a big fan of Maddison, he labelled Paqueta “a joke” and insisted there was a reason Manchester City want to sign him rather than the Tottenham midfielder this summer.
Speaking on The Take On (27 March, 27:40) he said: “He’s a joke. The eye test. Watch him. [Paqueta] is a joke. And he can play the eight as well. I think James Maddison is top, I really do.
“But Man City don’t want James Maddison, do they? They want Paqueta. I would rather have Paqueta in my team.”
Will Lucas Paqueta leave West Ham United for Manchester City?
It has been clear for some time that Paqueta is completely crucial to everything Moyes does at the London Stadium as the Hammers have looked like a shell of a team when the Brazilian has been sidelined with injury.
However, that good form hasn’t gone unnoticed by other teams in the Premier League, with City in particular being consistently linked with the Brazilian both last summer and ahead of the end of the season.
Whether or not Pep Guardiola’s side act upon their interest when the window opens again remains to be seen, but there isn’t normally any smoke without fire and Moyes may face a battle to keep his star man at the London Stadium.
Until then, the Brazilian has to do all that he can to help the Irons both in Europe and the Premier League. Whether he is better than Maddison doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, but supporters will take every chance to get one over Spurs.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are understood to have checked in on one Juventus loanee ahead of the summer transfer window
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