Lucas Paquetá continues to maintain his interest in joining Manchester City if the opportunity arises, as reported by The Sun via Hammers. West Ham’s star midfielder, 26, had been on the radar of Pep Guardiola’s side but was unable to finalize his signing due to an ongoing investigation relating to betting allegations. However, Paquetá’s desire to work under the command of the Catalan coach remains intact.
Manchester City wasted no time in expressing their interest in Paquetá, especially after Declan Rice rejected their overtures. The departure of Ilkay Gundogan created the need to strengthen the midfield, and the Brazilian midfielder became a prime target.
Lucas Paquetá is still waiting at Manchester City
Although Paquetá had reached a personal agreement with Manchester City and talks with West Ham were underway, the investigation into the betting allegations put a stop to the move. The Cityzens opted to sign Matheus Nunes from Wolves close to the transfer deadline.
Despite this setback, Manchester City has not abandoned the idea of signing Paquetá and could return to the fray in the January transfer window. However, West Ham has no intention of accepting offers at that time as they consider the Brazilian midfielder essential to their plans for the current season.
Additionally, there has been mention of an £85 million release clause that will be activated in Paquetá’s contract for next summer, meaning any interested club will have to shell out that figure to secure his services. West Ham is willing to keep him at all costs and could even offer him a new contract in an effort to dissuade other suitors, such as Newcastle United, who are also closely monitoring the situation.
However, Manchester City seems to have an advantage in the race for Paquetá, as the player welcomes the possibility of joining Guardiola’s team. Although a transfer in the winter market seems unlikely, a move in the summer could be on the cards as Manchester City could rekindle their interest in the talented midfielder. Paquetá has excelled under David Moyes at West Ham this season, racking up a goal and an assist in eight Premier League games. With the London team looking to secure a place at the top of the table, his role will continue to be fundamental in the campaign.
