Lucas Paqueta exit on cards at West Ham already with legal team happy

West Ham star Lucas Paqueta is in the middle of a Football Association hearing into his alleged match fixing.

The Hammers' ace is accused of deliberately getting booked on four different occasions to influence betting outcomes.

If he is found guilty, the FA are set to push for a life-time ban for the Brazilian that would leave his footballing career and the Irons' future plans in tatters.

West Ham could be set to lose Paqueta either way

Graham Potter may lose Paqueta regardless of the outcome of the hearing.

The Brazilian's legal team are happy with the way that proceedings have progressed, and if he is acquitted, that could lead to a big-money sale in the summer, according to talkSPORT.

However, if he is found guilty, he would be unlikely to ever play for the East London club again, given the extent of the ban that the FA are pushing for.

Potter plans for the summer depend on Paqueta outcome

Potter's plans to overhaul his squad alongside recruitment supremo Kyle Macauley depend on the outcome of the Paqueta hearing for two reasons.

The first is that if he plans to keep Paqueta around and make him a pivotal asset to his side going forward, he needs the Brazil star to beat the case.

The second is, if the Hammers are planning to sell their star man for a hefty profit and use the funds to rebuild their squad and rise the Premier League table, they also need that outcome.

A guilty verdict would be a disaster in either of those cases; if he is given a lifetime ban, then a potential £80million plus move to Manchester City would be off the cards.

The quicker the hearing is resolved, the better, not only for the Irons but also for the player, as he is desperate to find out the verdict, as he denied any wrongdoing throughout the process.

His current contract at the London Stadium runs until 2027, but the Hammers would surely look to find a way out of that if he is found guilty.