West Ham star Lucas Paqueta showed he was desperate for a move to Newcastle so David Moyes is lucky to have him.
As far as ‘come and get me’ pleas go, Paqueta’s to Newcastle United in the summer was pretty blatant.
It was not so much a fluttering of the eyelids in Eddie Howe’s direction but more full on twerking. And fans of West Ham and Newcastle know Paqueta can certainly dance.
In the end, though, the Brazil midfielder signed for West Ham in a record £51m move, much to the excitement of Hammers fans.
Paqueta could be forgiven for looking on at best friend and former Lyon teammate Bruno Guimaraes with envy given how things have panned out for so this season for Newcastle and West Ham.
Paqueta flirted with Newcastle but became West Ham’s Brazilian magnifico
The Magpies are riding high in the Champions League spots and have made it to a first cup final since 1999.
Meanwhile West Ham are in the thick of an unexpected relegation battle.
Things look to be on the up for the Hammers of late, though. And Paqueta has been an increasingly influential figure.
Howe admitted before the 1-1 draw at the weekend that he wanted to sign Paqueta last summer but admitted the deal proved beyond Newcastle, who needed their funds to sign striker Alexander Isak.
At the same time Moyes was telling the press he expected and wanted more goals and assists from his midfield ace.
Report: West Ham star Lucas Paqueta showed he was desperate for Newcastle move so David Moyes is lucky to have him
And he certainly responded, putting in a classy display and scoring West Ham’s goal to secure a vital away point.
In the wake of the match, a report claims West Ham star Paqueta showed he was desperate for a Newcastle move so Moyes is lucky to have him.
Chronicle Live claims Paqueta and his agent were open to a move to Newcastle in the summer when it became obvious his time at Lyon was coming to an end.
“As “come and get me” pleas go, Paqueta went as far as he could at the end of last season by taking a tour of the city with his close pal and even donning a Newcastle kit in Bruno Guimaraes’ garden for an end of term kickabout,” Chronicle Live reports.
Newcastle’s loss is West Ham’s gain
That referred to pictures posted online in the summer of Paqueta doing just that in Newcastle.
Whether Paqueta wanted Newcastle or not, he ended up at West Ham. And for that fans – and Moyes – should be grateful.
By his own admission Paqueta says he is becoming ever more confident and settled at West Ham.
And it is starting to really show on the pitch.
The season could yet be a huge success story for West Ham and Paqueta too.
If he can help the Hammers rise out of the relegation equation then there is no reason they can’t seriously attack the Europa Conference League, which West Ham are one of the favourites to win.
Do that and Paqueta will help the Irons lift a first major trophy since 1980 while securing Europa League football in the process.
Newcastle’s loss is very much West Ham’s gain.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
West Ham make stance clear on Man City as “big six” rivals push for expulsion.
What Chelsea did in Italy on D-day proves true intentions over move for Rice.
Leeds signing must regret not pushing for West Ham move after debacle.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
