One aspect of the Lucas Paqueta saga yet to be fully explained is what West Ham United plan to do to fill a hole in their frontline once the Brazilian seals his anticipated return to Flamengo.
Whether they actually need a replacement – a direct one, in any sense – is another factor worth considering.
West Ham United fared pretty well without Lucas Paqueta as they recorded successive wins over an admittedly second-tier Queens Park Rangers outfit and the worst Tottenham team in living memory.
It was expected by many that Mateus Fernandes would be pushed up the pitch into the number ten role, in Paqueta’s absence. Instead, he started – and starred – alongside Tomas Soucek. Pablo Felipe instead began Saturday’s derby in behind Taty Castellanos.
What is the best SOLUTION for West Ham over Lucas Paqueta? 👀
And while the £18 million signing from Gil Vicente may lack Paqueta’s scalpel-like qualities, he does appear to offer the kind of physicality, selflessness, and intensity often missing from this Hammers team. Pablo played a ‘really nice’ part in Crysencio Summerville’s opener at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, too.
So, as two of the potential Paqueta replacements slip away – Marseille are set to complete the quickfire additions of Ethan Nwaneri and Quinten Timber from Arsenal and Feyenoord respectively – life without Lucas does not seem quite so daunting these days.
West Ham United targets Quinten Timber and Ethan Nwaneri are set for Marseille
According to Fabrizio Romano, both Nwaneri and Timber will join Roberto de Zerbi’s French giants tomorrow. What’s more, Marseille are expected to land the duo while spending just £4 million in transfer fees.
“Ethan Nwaneri and Quinten Timber will both arrive in Marseille on Wednesday,” Romano writes on X. “Arsenal also believe it’s the best solution on loan [for Nwaneri].
“[Mikel] Arteta also spoke with Roberto de Zerbi and OM seen as ideal solution. Straight loan deal at final stages – no buy option clause – expected to be agreed soon.
“[For Timber, it will be a] fee around 4.5 million euros, plus difficult add-ons. Timber has agreed on all terms with Marseille, picking OM over three more offers.”
Romano does not reveal the identity of those three mystery clubs. Could one be West Ham? It is not entirely out of the question, especially as Feyenoord are willing to accept such a lowball fee.
Hammers News can confirm that Nuno wanted Quinten Timber at Nottingham Forest just last summer. West Ham were hot on the Dutch international’s heels as recently as November, too.
While not quite a ‘number ten’, the dynamic, ball-carrying, occasionally box-crashing Timber might have been a nice fit when it comes to the physicality and end-to-end nature of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta performs a Nwaneri U-turn as France switch beckons
The extremely highly-rated Ethan Nwaneri felt like a real opportunity for the Hammers as well, following his lack of regular game time at the Emirates. Football London report that West Ham did indeed lodge an enquiry. Arteta was initially keen to keep Nwaneri. But after an elite talent-developer like De Zerbi stepped in – and after Nwaneri was left out of the matchday squad for a fourth game in a row – the Gunners boss opted to soften his stance.
There is still one other exciting, affordable – and crucially attainable – attacking midfielder who could yet become one of the stories of the window, though.
What would you SAY if West Ham replaced Paqueta with an 18-year-old…
Dro Fernandez can leave Barcelona for just £5m! 🇪🇸
Romano reported on Friday that Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez has decided to leave Barcelona. What’s more, the Spain Under-19 starlet can be snapped up for just £5 million due to a clause in his contract. Like with Nwaneri, the Hammers face being blown out of the water by a more established European force.
But, months after Alan Nixon revealed their interest on his Patreon page, West Ham may have a shot at an Andres Iniesta-lookalike with a Champions League assist under his belt at the age of just 18.
Pablo Felipe and Mateus Fernandes shine as Flamengo talks drag on
Failing that, the sight of Fernandes, Pablo and a rejuvenated Crysencio Summerville stepping up in Paqueta’s absence may have Nuno wondering if money really needs to be spent replacing the Rio-bound playmaker when money needs to be set aside for centre-halves.
“I played in the Portuguese league and [it is] so different from England to Portugal,” former Sporting Lisbon kid Fernandes told reporters after watching the relentless Pablo win three tackles from his second-striker role against Spurs.
“The intensity, the defenders, every team has good players. So, he’s learning about the football, the pockets where he needs to be. I think [Pablo] did a very good job. Him and Taty, they helped the team, they helped the manager, the club.”
In terms of where things stand with Paqueta, Brazilian reporter Rodrigo Mattos explains to UOL that West Ham and Flamengo still remain a few million apart in terms of their respective valuations.
“West Ham, which previously dug its heels in and said that [selling] Paqueta was non-negotiable, changed this stance,” Mattos says. “The English club is now signalling that they will accept talking about a sale.
“[Paqueta] made it very clear to the West Ham board that his desire is to return to Flamengo now.”
“West Ham’s informal asking price is 45 million euros. Flamengo is working with a ceiling of 40 million euros. It is a difference that can be adjusted through bonuses and targets.”
“Between Flamengo and Paqueta, everything is settled. The player has already agreed to reduce his salary to fit the club’s reality and sign for four years.”
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