West Ham United exit for Lucas Paqueta appears inevitable with Manchester City set to return
Lucas Paqueta’s West Ham exit now “seems inevitable” with Manchester City expected to return for the Brazilian, according to The Athletic.
Roshane Thomas wrote for the outlet’s website on 1 May that the star midfielder doesn’t intend to force an exit, but with his £85million release clause set to become active for the upcoming transfer window a departure is expected.
The 26-year-old came close to a move to The Etihad last summer before the deal collapsed at the emergence of an FA investigation into alleged better breaches, which still remains ongoing.
Paqueta has starred at times for the Hammers this season but he missed the first leg of the Europa League tie against Bayer Leverkusen through suspension and wasn’t at the game when others who weren’t in the side were.
But a big-money sale is seen as helping West Ham to rebuild the squad for a new manager, amid moves to sort out a successor to the presumed exit-bound David Moyes.
Necessary evil for West Ham to lose £85million man?
Assuming there is a new coach in the dug-out next season there is little doubt that Paqueta would fit into a new-look Irons side.
But when it is arguably a bonus that the club got the current campaign from him in light of the late-window advances from City at the start of the season it would be little surprise if he is not a part of a post-Moyes era, after suggestions his still has an agreement on personal terms in place.
Declan Rice’s £105m exit to Arsenal a year ago came after months of speculation, and while the Paqueta situation hasn’t drawn the same focus it looks like leading to a second big-money exit in two summers.
The former captain’s departure proved the club can get the fee they are looking for, but arguably set back a transfer window which only belatedly turned around.
West Ham need to move as decisively as possible this time around if they are to have a chance of getting all the required work done in the offseason, so if the managerial situation is truly still waiting on face-to-face talks between Moyes and David Sullivan they should happen as soon as possible and a clear decision made.
Whether it be the Scot or, more likely, a successor in charge action needs to be taken on comings and goings, and if Paqueta is indeed going to be one of the latter the sooner the better it is wrapped up so the cash can be reinvested.
In other West Ham news, the Irons have made progress in talks to sign a league-leading player.
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