Manchester City enter ‘Crucial Stages’ to sign Lucas Paqueta from West Ham United – Fabrizio Romano
West Ham are expecting a new bid from Manchester City for Lucas Paqueta “imminently” after they won the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday, reports Fabrizio Romano.
Writing on his personal Twitter account (17 August), the reliable journalist reports that the current Premier League champions are set to enter “crucial stages” for the deal following their success in midweek.
West Ham are said to want at least £85m to let the Brazilian leave the club, with Paqueta wanting the move having agreed personal terms with City already.
“Manchester City are set to enter into crucial stages of Lucas Paqueta and Jeremy Doku deals starting from today, after winning the UEFA Super Cup,” he wrote.
“New approach imminent for Paqueta, official bid now being prepared for Doku.”
Expected
There was no way that this deal was just going to blow over and we wouldn’t hear any more about it, especially after Kevin De Bruyne’s injury.
Paqueta could step into that midfield role as the chief creator quite easily and shine, but that is exactly why he is so important to West Ham currently and why we can’t let him go without a fight.
The player has a release clause in his contract that becomes active next summer, but the Hammers are looking to hold out for at least that amount now to let him go with just two weeks remaining of the window.
With a new bid imminent talks are likely to ramp up in the coming days and the club will have to make a decision quickly, because if he goes he will need to be replaced and that won’t be easy to do on such short notice.
With that said it has to all be taken into account, including the fact he wants to go as we can’t have a player who doesn’t want to be here stinking up the joint.
In other West Ham news, player ‘Destined’ to leave London Stadium this summer.