Lucas Paqueta risks incurring the wrath of West Ham after details emerged of secret calls he has been having, allegedly on a daily basis, with Flamengo boss Filipe Luis.
The revelation is a fresh escalation in an already sensitive situation, raising questions over trust, protocol and whether lines have been crossed as the saga surrounding the Brazilian’s future continues to intensify.
Lucas Paqueta has been pushing to leave West Ham for a return to his first – and boyhood – club Flamengo.
There has been claim and counterclaim about the situation with Nuno Espirito Santo imploring West Ham to resolve the situation quickly.
Earlier this week the West Ham board sent a stern warning to Paqueta after it was claimed he could effectively down tools to get what he wants.
Nuno met with Paqueta and urged West Ham to let him leave should Flamengo meet his £40m valuation, according to reports out of Brazil.
West Ham’s Paqueta saga threatens to end in messy divorce
Things have been threatening to turn messy, though, with West Ham making an astonishing Paqueta statement, accusing the 28-year-old of ‘lies’ and ‘playing games’ over a supposed back injury.
Paqueta is out of West Ham’s crucial game at Spurs – and may well have played his last game for the club.
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His form and conduct have divided opinion among Hammers fans, many of whom have been frustrated with the Brazilian playmaker for some time now.
After standing by him throughout his two-year spot-fixing ordeal, West Ham could justifiably feel entitled to more loyalty from Paqueta.
Especially with the club fighting for their Premier League lives.
The club would also feel entitled to better output from a player of Paqueta’s talents given he has registered just one assist in his last 59 games.
Some West Ham fans are more sympathetic to Paqueta’s situation and understand why he would want to return to Brazil over the FA investigation saga and how it was dealt with.
But now Paqueta has risked West Ham’s wrath as details of secret calls with the Flamengo boss emerge.
Leading Brazilian journalist Pablo Rua has been right across the Paqueta story back in the midfielder’s homeland.
It is being claimed that a deal totalling £40m with add-ons is edging close to being agreed after a second round of talks between West Ham and Flamengo.
But Rua claims Paqueta has been plotting the move since way back in December, promising Flamengo manager Filipe Luis he would push West Ham to let him leave.
Paqueta risks West Ham wrath over secret calls with Flamengo boss
On the flip side, ex Chelsea player Luis has been pushing for Flamengo’s hierarchy to meet Paqueta’s valuation to make the deal happen.
Despite talk of the move only suddenly igniting in the last week, it is stated that Paqueta has been having almost daily secret calls with Luis since last month.
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“Filipe Luis has played a decisive role in the negotiations involving Lucas Paqueta,” Rua states.
“Since December, the coach has maintained nearly daily contact with the midfielder by phone. In one of those conversations, the West Ham player asked Flamengo to intensify the talks and seek a financial agreement with the English club, while assuring that he would push to make his departure feasible.
“After the rejection of the first bid from the red and black side, valued at 30 million euros (£28m), made on December 30 – one day after Filipe Luís’s official (contract) renewal – the coach began pressuring internally.
“Filipe sought out José Boto and the club’s financial department to advocate for increasing the offer, betting on the technical and sporting impact that Paqueta would have on the squad.
“If the negotiation reaches a positive outcome, the success of the operation will be credited to two fundamental pillars: Lucas Paqueta, for his firm stance with West Ham, and Filipe Luís, for his direct and strategic involvement behind the scenes at Flamengo.”
This will not go down well with Hammers fans or the club’s owners.
While he should have been concentrating on helping West Ham battle for results to stave off relegation, Paqueta has been distracted and plotting an escape.
With the benefit of hindsight, that has been visible in his performances.
It could lead to Paqueta’s already tarnished reputation being sullied further still.
Brazilian sources claim £40m Paqueta deal is edging closer
Another top Flamengo reporter, Leo Jose of the club’s leading news site Coluna do Fla, is reporting that a £40m deal is nearing completion.
“Flamengo is maturing the talks with West Ham over Paquetá. Previously, the English club did not want to sell the midfielder, but now both sides already agree even on the value (€35m + €5m),” Jose claims.
“The obstacle has now become West Ham’s desire to keep Paquetá until the end of the English season due to their fight against relegation.
“However, the player himself has entered the conversation and is trying to “force” the transfer. In other words, both clubs are already accepting the deal, but there is still no common understanding on WHEN it will happen.
“Internally, Flamengo’s Football Department is working on drafting the official proposal to present it to president Bap, who needs to evaluate the figures with the Finance team before formally sending the offer to the English side.
“Meanwhile, Paquetá maintains a firm stance of wanting to return to Flamengo, applying direct pressure there in England. It is this pressure from the player that sustains Flamengo’s patience and optimism for a positive outcome in the negotiations.”
It could be a sad end to Paqueta’s spell at West Ham which, by rights, should be remembered for that pass which delivered the club’s only major trophy of the last 46 years.
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