West Ham United ‘accept’ Lucas Paqueta exit with permanent Cole Palmer transfer on cards from Manchester City – Jacob Steinberg
West Ham have “accepted” they will now likely lose Lucas Paqueta to Manchester City and “will sell for the right price”, according to Jacob Steinberg.
The Guardian journalist reported on the newspaper’s website Friday (11 August) that the Brazilian’s desire to move was “expected [to] prove decisive” and while it has been stressed the 25-year-old has “remained professional this week” it’s been acknowledged that keeping him against his will would be “counterproductive”.
Steinberg reports that having lost “hope” of keeping their club-record signing the Irons are now trying to “soften the blow” by signing Cole Palmer in return ahead of Brighton, and after already asking after a loan for the scorer of a “stunning” goal in the Community Sheild, it is now “understood they would have a better chance of signing the winger on a permanent basis”.
City’s opening offer for Paqueta of £70m was rejected but but it has been reported elsewhere that he has already “said yes” to Pep Guardiola’s side, and that a “monstrous” offer is on the cards.
The signing of Palmer is expected to be with a view for the 21-year-old to play in the same team is Hammers star Jarrod Bowen, despite them playing in the same position on the right.
One in one out
It wouldn’t be a direct replacement but it would certainly save time and energy, both of which West Ham have wasted plenty of this summer, to get a new signing in to process of a sale.
Losing Paqueta at this stage of the window can’t be dressed up as a positive, especially on top of high-profile exits from Declan Rice and Gianluca Scamacca already this summer, only one of whom is just now being replaced.
David Moyes needs a lot of business done between now and 1 September to even restock what he has lost, and he requires more than that to strengthen a side that came close to relegation last term.
Palmer is a very highly-rated young talent and, with Bowen mooted to switch to a central role, would help address Manuel Lanzini’s departure.
Edson Alavarez is in, and James Ward-Prowse is imminent to provide the succession to Rice, but Paqueta leaving will still leave a big gap in midfield.
A proven goalscorer is, as ever, required with doubts over both Michail Antonio’s and Danny Ings’ futures on top of Scamacca’s exit.
Losing the top two signings from last summer, and the star captain, in one window really needed a clear plan to ensure it could be navigated smoothly, but instead West Ham are trying to deal with it on the fly as they rush through the final weeks of the window.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are making a run at a player who Chelsea tried to sign amid their hunt for more goals, and talks are already on.