Manchester City ‘doing everything’ to secure Lucas Paqueta transfer amid West Ham United update
Manchester City are “doing everything” they can to reduce West Ham United’s asking price for Lucas Paqeuta this summer, according to FootMercato.
The French outlet reported on Monday (15 April) that the Brazilian midfielder has a £85million release clause in his contract at the London Stadium, but the Premier League champions are eager to pay less for his services.
Matching the 26-year-old’s release clause would be a last resort for Pep Guardiola’s side and they are still in complicated negotiations with the Hammers to try and make them lower their asking price ahead of the summer window.
Paqueta has been a key part of David Moyes’s side at the London Stadium this season, scoring four goals and laying on six assists in 26 Premier League games.
Will Lucas Paqueta leave West Ham United for Manchester City in the January transfer window?
It has been clear for several weeks now that Manchester City’s interest in Paqueta is only going to grow as we get closer to the summer transfer window, but it remains unclear whether they will bite the bullet and pay what’s required to secure his signature.
West Ham don’t want to sell the 26-year-old as he has been a key part of the rise under Moyes in recent years. It would be expensive to replace him and therefore, any club interested in buying him will have to pay top dollar to sign him, as was the case with Declan Rice.
The Hammers are unlikely to change that stance over a couple of million pounds, especially when it seems as though they are compliant with profit and sustainability rules. City will have to match their price if they want this deal to be finalised.
Hopefully, the Irons won’t budge and give in to City’s pressure. They sold Rice in the perfect fashion last summer and they have the opportunity to do the same again here, with £85million they could find an excellent Paqueta replacement.
In other West Ham news, an update has emerged surrounding Konstas Mavropanos ahead of the clash with Bayer Leverkusen
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