Lucas Paqueta reaches verbal agreement to leave West Ham in £26.5m move
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta may be set to get his wish to leave in the winter transfer window.
Paqueta made his desire to move on from West Ham clear in October, after potential moves to Aston Villa and Flamengo fell apart in the summer
A report from Brazilian outlet Bolavip on 12 November claims that Paqueta already has a verbal agreement with the Hammers to leave.
It states that the Irons are ready to negotiate an exit for the 28-year-old playmaker when the market reopens.
Lucas Paqueta set for £26.5m exit from West Ham
Paqueta is desperately needed by West Ham, as they look to escape the relegation zone in the coming months.
However, he may not be at the London Stadium for much longer, amid the latest from his home country of Brazil.
The report also claims that Flamengo are set to revive their interest, and are willing to pay up to £26.5million to secure his services.
West Ham cannot afford to sanction Paqueta exit
Paqueta is one of the few players in Nuno Espirito Santo‘s squad who is capable of pulling magic moments from a hat.
He is able to take a game by the scruff of the neck and make a difference, something that will be crucial in the upcoming battle against the drop.
- Paqueta has made over 130 appearances for the Irons
- He has notched 22 goals and 14 assists in that time
- He missed out on an £80m transfer to Manchester City in 2023
Mateus Fernandes would potentially take on the burden that Paqueta’s exit would leave, but he may not be ready for such a responsibility, although he is a very talented young player.
The supposed fee seems on the low side, and it is questionable whether it would even be worth it, for the East London outfit, especially given the implications.
Paqueta is vital to their chances of staying in the division, and allowing him to leave for a minimal amount does not seem like a positive outcome, and could leave Nuno and Co. in a real bind.
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