West Ham United: Lucas Paqueta personal terms agreed for Manchester City transfer
Manchester City have personal terms in place with West Ham star Lucas Paqueta ahead of a possible summer transfer, according to Santi Aouna.
The Foot Mercato journalist reported via Twitter on 8 April that the Brazilian star has a long-term contract waiting for him at the Etihad, although there are no talks currently under way between the clubs.
City came close to signing the former Lyon star last summer before the emergence of an investigation into possible betting rule breaches emerged to derail the deal.
But according to Aouna Paqueta’s agents expect the Hammers and the treble-winners to negotiate a deal at the end of the season.
The accompanying Foot Mercato report states that the two clubs had previously been on the way towards an agreement of somewhere between City’s highest offer of €101million [£86.6m] and the Irons’ higher request of €110m [£94.3], and Pep Guardiola’s side still have their eye on the West Ham star.
West Ham star set to seal Etihad switch this year?
Considering how close Paqueta seemingly came to leaving the London Stadium at the start of the season it always seemed possible that it was a move that could be resurrected in the future.
If City’s subsequent move for Matheus Nunes hasn’t proven sufficient then it looks fairly likely that for the second summer running a star man could make a big-money exit, especially as the betting investigation doesn’t appear set to get in the way, after Declan Rice’s £105m move to Arsenal last year [Sky Sports, 17 July].
If Paqueta does go then it is going to leave West Ham with even more attacking business to get done given there is already plenty of need in forward areas.
The 26-year-old’s eight goals and seven assists across all competitions this term might not seem absolutely spectacular, but his all-round game has been important on top of the numbers.
And with the attritional nature of watching West Ham under David Moyes sometimes only remedied by the skill of the Brazilian international, his exit would leave a big gap to fill.
The Irons should at least secure a big fee from him, but it will need to be reinvested wisely and a lot of that will depend on the futures of Moyes and Tim Steidten, and whatever situation remains between them as this season ends.
In other West Ham news, another exit-linked Hammers ace is shocked by the treatment he has received.
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