New Lucas Paqueta twist proves West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has made complete U-turn

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West Ham United star Lucas Paqueta has experienced a really challenging past 16 months or so.

Lucas Paqueta has been hit with four separate charges pertaining to potential betting breaches, and he apparently faces a lifetime ban if found guilty.

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That will obviously be a disaster for the 27-year-old and of course, the Hammers.

West Ham signed the Brazilian for £51 million in the summer of 2022, so we could end up having a major asset on mammoth wages who we are unable to sell.

If we’re being honest with ourselves, Paqueta hasn’t lived up to expectations at the London Stadium.

That said, the through ball he played to Jarrod Bowen in the 2023 Europa Conference League final was probably worth the £51 million transfer fee on its own.

So what does the future really hold for Lucas in East London?

Lucas Paqueta twist proves West Ham have made U-turn

There have been numerous conflicting claims about Paqueta since news of the betting charges came to light.

The Brazilian’s form on the pitch for the Hammers has suffered as a result of his off-field problems.

It was claimed just a few weeks ago that West Ham were prepared to let Paqueta leave the London Stadium in the January transfer window.

Now though, Sean Whetstone is claiming that the Hammers actually have no intention of letting the South American leave the club on loan or for a nominal fee permanently this winter.

That represents quite the turnaround from the original claims.

If I were a cynic, I would suggest that the Hammers are waiting to see whether Paqueta gets found guilty of the charges levelled against him first before deciding to take action.

If Lucas Paqueta is proven innocent, West Ham will be able to sell him for a big fee, but if he’s found guilty, the club could well sue the Brazilian.

I still wouldn’t be shocked to see the former Lyon man leave in the January window.

He has been very poor for us this season and has been a real liability at times. This winter will be a good time for Paqueta and West Ham to go their separate ways in my opinion.