The sale of Lucas Paqueta has not only coincided with West Ham United’s sudden upturn in form, it may have also opened the door for one of the brightest talents in Brazilian football to move in the other direction.
Reports emerged last week claiming that West Ham are watching Flamengo midfielder Everrton Araujo ‘closely’.
A teammate of Lucas Paqueta’s at the Maracana, the diminutive ball-winner could potentially be the next brick in West Ham United’s midfield rebuild.
Serious question – are you taking a peak Mateus Fernandes or a peak Lucas Paqueta in your dream midfield?!
Guido Rodriguez, Andy Irving and James Ward-Prowse were all allowed to leave in January. Without a replacement arriving before the deadline on February 2nd – a bid was reportedly made for Alpha Toure while Mark Noble supposedly wanted Marseille newbie Tochukwu Nnadi – the expectation is that a young, dynamic, all-action central midfielder will be very high on the shopping list come the summer.
And it just so happens that West Ham harbour ‘very good’ relations with Flamengo these days. That can only be a good thing, if Araujo is to follow in Paqueta’s claret and blue footsteps.
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West Ham United and Flamengo have a ‘very good relationship’ after Lucas Paqueta deal
Flamengo president Luiz Eduardo Baptista spoke to Diario AS this week about the drawn-out and complex saga which eventually saw Paqueta become the most expensive signing in the history of Brazilian football.
The Copa Libertadores champions had to jump through plenty of hoops. West Ham did not want to sell Paqueta in January, with their Premier League status on the line.
The two clubs were eventually able to reach an agreement, though. One which appears to have drawn the Londoners and their Rio-based counterparts together.
“The relationship with West Ham was very good,” Baptista said. “They had a very clear vision of what they wanted. They wanted to keep Paqueta until the end of the season and we respected that, we respected West Ham’s timing.
“We said, ‘Look, it’s important for us that Paqueta comes now.’ That’s why we paid more! West Ham said that, under those conditions, they wouldn’t accept our offer, so we made that adjustment [to the price]. A little here, a little there.
“It wasn’t a simple negotiation. But in any case, we have the utmost respect for West Ham. They were very fair and very direct. The negotiation was a good experience.”
Evertton Araujo is a midfielder the Hammers are watching ‘closely’
The lines of communication are likely to remain open if, as Flamengo reporter Leo Jose claimed on his official X account, Evertton Araujo is high on West Ham’s list of midfield targets.
“West Ham [are] eyeing Everton Araujo,” Jose reported. “The English club got wind of the player through their scout. The 22-year-old midfielder is now being closely watched by the London team.
“I’ve also heard that West Ham values the player at around 12 million euros [around £10 million]. Flamengo are holding out for a much higher price, given he’s a young talent with European market potential.”
West Ham have been burned before in the Brazilian market, of course. Luis Guilherme was sold at a loss last month when Sporting Lisbon bought the ex-Palmeiras starlet for £17 million. Forgotten centre-back Luizao returned to Brazil when the Hammers agreed to terminate his contract.
Yet, this is still a pond the Hammers are keen to dip their toes into.
Fluminense’s Matheus Martinelli wants to stay in Brazil despite Premier League interest
Cruzeiro hitman and Brazilian Serie A Golden Boot winner Kaio Jorge reportedly turned down a Premier League switch before Taty Castellanos and Pablo Felipe arrived at Rush Green. Yuri Alberto of Corinthians is a long-time target.
Globo Esporte believe that West Ham tried to sign Matheus Martinelli from Fluminense in the winter window, meanwhile. Another up-and-coming, deep-lying midfield player, it will not be easy convincing Martinelli to leave a club with whom he has collected no fewer than seven trophies.
“I’m very happy here. I have no words to describe my feelings for the club, a club that has done so much for me. If I could, I would renew until 2050,” an impassioned Martinelli told Itatiaia a few days ago.
“It’s natural for [transfer rumours] to come up outside, but I leave it in the hands of my agents, the board, whatever is good for the club, good for me…
“I’m not in a hurry about [leaving]. I have a clear head, I’m very happy. I want to play many more games here at the Maracana, with a packed Maracana, win titles. That makes me very happy, every time I step onto the field I try to be like a kid from Xerem.”
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