Eddie Howe has admitted that he tried to sign Lucas Paqueta for Newcastle before he joined West Ham United in the summer.
The 25-year-old Brazilian play-maker ended up joining the Hammers from Lyon for a club record £51 million fee (The Times).
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Paqueta has made a slow start to life at the London Stadium. Many West Ham fans argue that the Brazilian’s struggles have mostly been down to David Moyes’s inability to use him correctly, and his subsequent failure to get the best out of him.
Hopefully Moyes starts setting up his team so that Paqueta can flourish.
However, things could have been very different for the South American, had Howe and Newcastle got their way in the summer…
Newcastle wanted to sign West Ham star Lucas Paqueta
Eddie Howe spoke to the media this morning, ahead of Newcastle’s clash with the Hammers tomorrow evening.
And the Toon boss admitted that he actually wanted to bring one West Ham star to St James’ Park in the summer transfer window, as quoted by the Shields Gazette:
“It was never close, but we certainly admire the player greatly. There are loads of different reasons (it didn’t happen), transfer fees etc. He’s an outstanding talent, and plays in a number of positions. He gives West Ham something totally different in the middle of the pitch.”
It would have been interesting to see which club Paqueta picked, had the Magpies actually come in with a concrete offer for the Brazilian ace.
Luckily for us, the West Ham owners were prepared to pay what Lyon wanted for Lucas Paqueta.
Now we just need to see him start producing the goods on a consistent basis for the Hammers.
Hopefully he plays a big part for us tomorrow against the Toon, and makes Howe regret the fact that he didn’t push harder to sign him.
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