Flamengo’s technical director Jose Boto has confirmed that Lucas Paqueta ‘really wants’ to return to Brazil as an exit from Premier League survival-battlers West Ham United edges closer.
It was reported on Tuesday that Flamengo and the Hammers were nearing an agreement with the Copa Libertadores champions edging towards the £39 million fee demanded for the former AC Milan and Lyon playmaker.
It is no secret that Lucas Paqueta has been pining for some time for a Maracana homecoming. Paqueta held talks with Flamengo last summer and the summer before. Now, with West Ham United reluctantly acknowledging that the Conference League winner wants out, it appears that their Rio-born schemer may finally get his wish.
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Flamengo director Jose Boto opens up on West Ham United and Lucas Paqueta talks
Jose Boto found himself embroiled in a social media gaffe last week. He reposted a video suggesting Paqueta’s arrival was imminent on his Instagram account. One Flamengo’s technical director hastily deleted.
Now, in quotes reported by ESPN, Boto spoke publicly for the first time – and seemingly ‘the last’ as well – about a transfer which looks destined to become the biggest in the history of Brazil’s top flight.
Should Flamengo and West Ham settle on a fee in and around the £35 – £40 million mark, Paqueta will became the league’s most expensive-ever signing. A record which has already been broken this month, thanks to Cruzeiro’s £24 million acquisition of Gerson.
“This is the first and last time I’m going to talk about the Paqueta case,” says Boto. “It’s well known, we’re not going to hide it from anyone. We really want to have Paqueta here.
“It’s well known that Paqueta really wants to come here but, in every negotiation, there’s a third party.”
The Hammers still need some convincing as talks continue
Interestingly, Boto admits that West Ham are still yet to be fully convinced about the merits of a January sale. Their Premier League status is on the line, after all.
Flamengo will be hoping that the money eventually proves too good to turn down, especially for a player who has made no secret of his desire to leave.
“There is a third party that isn’t very convinced about selling Paqueta,” Boto adds. “We’ve had significant progress on this issue, but it’s a very difficult operation. We’re talking about values and players of a very high level.
“We’ll have to be patient, count on West Ham’s cooperation, negotiate with West Ham. It’s not like in Football Manager! There are many things involved.”
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Flamengo’s finances have been boosted by the Club World Cup, as well as their recent league and continental double. Rodrigo Mattos, a Brazilian reporter, told UOL Esporte that the red-and-black striped club have around £70 million to spend on transfer fees and wages.
Still, Boto knows that Flamengo may have to think outside the box.
In terms of potential replacements, meanwhile, Barcelona whizzkid Pedro ‘Dro’ Fernandez is available for just £5 million. The Hammers were linked late last year.
Quinten Timber’s camp had discussions with West Ham too. But the Feyenoord midfielder is now joining Marseille, alongside another reported target in Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri.
“It’s not exclusive to a Brazilian club to pay in instalments. All clubs in the world pay [transfer fees] in instalments!,” the director concludes. “There are a series of negotiations and dealings that have to be done, which take time.
“Not the time we would like, otherwise Paqueta would already be here!
“But we are working on it, and that’s what we can promise; That we are working hard to make sure he comes.”
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