£95.2m Lucas Paqueta exit development emerges at West Ham United
West Ham have informed Manchester City it will take a bid of £95.2million to prise Lucas Paqueta away from the London Stadium, according to Claret & Hugh.
Moyes admitted following United’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth on Saturday [12 August], in which Paqueta played the full 90 minutes, that every player is available if the right offer is tabled [Evening Standard].
European and English champions City have already made one confirmed bid for Paqueta – thought to be in the region of £70m [Daily Mail] – while there has also been suggestions of an improved offer in excess of £87m being tabled.
However, Claret & Hugh reported on Sunday [13 August] that it will take even more than that to land Paqueta, although it is claimed negotiations are ongoing and “both clubs are confident a deal can be done”.
A tough call
West Ham will understandably be reluctant to lose arguably their two best players in the same window, having already seen Declan Rice head to Arsenal for £105m, but it is looking increasingly likely that will be the case.
Paqueta still has four years to run on his existing contract, so the ball is very much in the Irons’ court, but an offer of around £95m – should it arrive – would surely be too much to turn down.
Even accounting for the arrival of Edson Alvarez from Ajax and seemingly imminent signing of Southampton skipper James Ward-Prowse [Sky Sports], West Ham would need to bring in another player to fill the void left by Paqueta.
The 25-year-old scored four goals and assisted three more from midfield in the Premier League last season, and he further showed his versatility by slotting into a deeper position alongside Tomas Soucek against Bournemouth – a knock-on effect of Rice’s departure.
West Ham are undoubtedly a better side with the Brazilian in their ranks, but they cannot afford to let the saga drag on until the final throes of the window and miss out on a replacement.
If Man City seriously want a player then they will ultimately tend to get him, and there is no reason why that will not also be the case in their pursuit of Paqueta.
As long as the Irons are prepared for that, the additional cash windfall could see them not only bring in an adequate replacement but also strengthen in other areas of the field.
In other West Ham news, a move for Manchester United centre-back Harry Maguire still looks set to go through before the transfer window closes.