Lucas Paqueta has endured a torrid 19 months since the emergence of spot-fixing allegations and things have just got worse for the West Ham ace.
A black cloud has been following West Ham’s £51m record signing Lucas Paqueta around since August 2023.
It was then that Paqueta saw – in his own words – a “dream move” from West Ham to Manchester City collapse.
An £85m deal had all but been agreed between the Hammers and Man City for Paqueta.
Ex boss David Moyes and vice-chair Karren Brady have both since confirmed West Ham also saw a counter move for Cole Palmer hit the buffers at the same time.
The reason, spot-fixing allegations which suddenly emerged against midfield playmaker Paqueta.
Paqueta’s ordeal closing in on two years
Paqueta has always vehemently protested his innocence.
Initially there was a sharp uptick in his form, perhaps fuelled by the feeling of being wronged and a desire to keep Manchester City interested.
It worked with reports at the time stating Pep Guardiola would wait for Paqueta to, hopefully, be cleared of any wrongdoing before resurrecting the move.
But it took the FA until this time a year ago to actually formally charge Paqueta.
And it has taken almost another year for the trial to actually begin.
Hammers News exclusively revealed first at the weekend that the Paqueta trial has been adjourned until June.
It means more uncertainty for West Ham and their player.
West Ham have confirmed they face severe PSR restrictions in this summer’s crucial transfer window.
Shipping players out will be absolutely vital to raise funds for Graham Potter’s rebuild.
And Paqueta, if admonished, will be one of their more saleable assets, especially with the Club World Cup on the horizon – in which Manchester City will be competing.
Man City move carrot dangled again for Paqueta
Claret and Hugh, which counts the club’s majority owner David Sullivan and agent Barry Silkman – who helped facilitate Paqueta’s move from Lyon to West Ham – has claimed the door is still wide open for the £150k per week star to join Manchester City this summer.
With Kevin De Bruyne now confirming his departure, that claim looked to have logic and legs.
But bad news is following the Hammers ace around like a bad smell and now a top journalist has delivered some more.
David Ornstein has confirmed a devastating new blow for West Ham star Paqueta.
The award-winning Athletic journalist has revealed Man City’s plans for the summer in the wake of claims a deal could still be there for West Ham and their 27-year-old midfielder if he’s cleared in June.
Ornstein confirms devastating new blow for West Ham star Paqueta
But Paqueta is not among them.
According to Ornstein’s big update, Man City have now moved on from the West Ham man completely.
Instead Guardiola is keen on Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz to replace captain De Bruyne this summer.
If there is any national journalist who really is ‘in the know’ when it comes to transfers, it is Ornstein.
And it says everything about the chances of Man City still being interested in Paqueta that he doesn’t even get a mention among their targets.
Paqueta’s “dream” move to Man City looks to be officially dead.
Even so, if Paqueta is cleared, this summer might be a good time for a parting of the ways regardless.
Despite all the off field issues with the spot-fixing allegations, Paqueta will always be remembered at West Ham for that moment of genius which helped the club win its only major trophy of the last 45 years.
Paqueta’s defence-splitting pass for Jarrod Bowen’s late winner in the Europa Conference League final was worth the £51m on its own.
West Ham will be hoping his former club Flamengo or fellow Brazilian side Botafogo make good on serious interest previously.
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