West Ham United transfer news as Cole Palmer could be used in potential Manchester City deal for Lucas Paqueta – ExWHUemployee
West Ham United could ask Manchester City for attacker Cole Palmer in any potential deal for Lucas Paqueta, according to ExWHUemployee.
According to the Hammers insider (9 August), Palmer is one Manchester City player West Ham have a strong interest in and should a deal for Paqueta get to any advanced stage, the Etihad academy product could be used in the deal.
West Ham have been linked with Palmer before with Claret and Hugh reporting on 27 April that the Irons were ready to offer a fee to Manchester City to sign him but the Blues are unwilling to see him leave as they see him as a potential successor to Kevin De Bruyne.
Ex, speaking on the West Ham Way podcast (9 August), said: “It is understood that there is an £85m release clause in his contract, although that does not activate until next summer.
“His availability was first questioned by City to us when they approached us for Declan Rice. It has since been mentioned on another occasion this week.
“Cole Palmer is someone we have an interest in, and he could be used within the deal to land the Brazilian.”
Can’t lose Paqueta
No matter who West Ham United ask for in response to Manchester City’s interest in Paqueta, West Ham United simply cannot afford to lose him right now.
After the departure of Declan Rice, the Brazilian maestro is now the Hammers’ most prized asset and a fee close to £100m won’t even suffice which shows his immense importance to the whole club and David Moyes.
Losing two pivotal and most prestigious players in both Rice and Paqueta would be absolutely unthinkable in East London and given the impressive squad already being built with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse set to join Moyes’ revolution, losing Paqueta would represent a huge setback.
Palmer, lauded “special” by Pep Guardiola represents a promising and exciting proposition for the Hammers this summer, but it remains to be seen whether Manchester City and Guardiola will be willing to allow him to leave the Etihad this summer, given his standing as one of the club’s most prestigious young stars.
While Palmer would indeed be a great addition to Moyes’ attacking weaponry, keeping Paqueta remains the key priority right now and with his contract still having four years left to run, the Hammers are in a strong position regarding his future.
They simply cannot lose him right now.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have finally agreed a deal to seal another midfield transfer this summer.