West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta prepared to force transfer to Manchester City
West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta is prepared to force through a move to Manchester City this summer, according to Ben Jacobs.
Speaking to GiveMeSport on 13 August, the CBS journalist said this is a transfer that is “one to watch” up until the end of the window after the Premier League champions saw a reported £70million bid rejected for the Brazilian on 10 August.
He believes the Hammers can be “quite bullish” about what they want for the 25-year-old after already receiving £105million as part of Declan Rice’s move to Arsenal.
“This one remains one to watch right until the end of the window because I’m told still that Paqueta is quite prepared to push and force the move,” said Jacobs.
“Then it will all come down to money and the package and what kind of value West Ham place on Paqueta. They can be quite bullish, simply due to the fact that they’ve already got good money in for Declan Rice.
“It also looks like they’re going to get a flurry of incomings over the course of the next few days.”
Time will tell
It’s really a matter of time will tell on this one as nobody really knows yet whether or not Man City are going to come back in with an offer for Paqueta and if West Ham will even accept it.
Jacobs is right to point out that Rice’s move to Arsenal could be a factor because the club won’t be desperate to take the money on offer after that transfer provided a healthy boost to the finances already.
The Hammers are reportedly looking for at least £85million to even consider allowing the Brazilian to leave, so there is still quite a gap between the two clubs’ valuations of the player.
Although it’s clear to see why the Brazilian would want to join the Citizens and play Champions League football under Pep Guardiola, there hasn’t been much indication that he will be looking to force through a move yet.
He started the game against Bournemouth on 12 August and seems happy enough playing for the club, so he is probably just waiting to see if the sides can reach an agreement before the transfer window closes in a couple of weeks.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have been urged to sign a “fantastic” midfielder this summer.