West Ham standout Lucas Paqueta might find himself joining Manchester City this upcoming summer if Pep Guardiola’s side renews their interest in acquiring the player.
Last summer, Manchester City and West Ham reached an agreement for an £80 million deal to transfer the 26-year-old from the London Stadium to the Etihad Stadium. However, the plans for the move were derailed by a significant investigation.
A comprehensive probe by the FA and FIFA into illicit betting activities in Brazil halted any potential transfer. Paqueta is set to be available for £85 million in 2024.
He made a move from Lyon to West Ham for a club-record fee of £51 million in 2022, playing a pivotal role in the Hammers’ conquest of the UEFA Europa Conference League last season.
Although currently sidelined due to injury, Paqueta has contributed to setting up seven Premier League goals in 18 appearances this season. Last season, he played a part in 12 goals scored by David Moyes’ team in 41 games and is poised to potentially surpass that tally.
Should Paqueta’s performance numbers prove consistent, Manchester City might reignite their interest in the midfielder. The Sky Blues have been linked with various targets and are anticipated to strengthen their midfield during the upcoming summer transfer window.
According to a report from Football Insider, West Ham is “likely” to entertain a Manchester City offer for Paqueta this summer if Pep Guardiola expresses interest in signing the 28-year-old. However, the outcome hinges on the conclusion of the ongoing investigation into suspected betting infractions.
West Ham is expected to receive an update on the investigation’s outcome soon. Despite City’s continued interest in signing the Brazilian international, the likelihood of West Ham obstructing the transfer is low if City presents a competitive offer exceeding the Hammers’ transfer valuation.
Additionally, there have been suggestions of potentially utilizing England midfielder Kalvin Phillips, who departed Manchester City in January and is currently on loan at West Ham until the season’s end, in a swap deal.
Furthermore, City has been linked with Joshua Kimmich, a defender from Bayern Munich, and is set to acquire Savio, another Brazilian player, from the City Football Group.
