There is major Lucas Paqueta Man City relief for West Ham after an exclusive new claim about a deal resurrection.
Dark clouds were gathering when, out of the blue, it emerged that Manchester City wanted West Ham talisman Lucas Paqueta towards the end of the summer window.
When it was reported he – like most footballers it must be said – also wanted the move, a deal of around £80-85m was said to be close to being agreed between the Hammers and Man City.
But when allegations over illegal betting – which Paqueta vehemently denies – emerged, that move collapsed.
Paqueta has showed just why Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola wanted him with his performances ever since.
Major Lucas Paqueta Man City relief for West Ham after exclusive new claim about deal resurrection
West Ham’s Brazilian magnifico has officially been the best all round player in the Premier League so far this season.
But as Hammers fans enjoy their talisman, worrying news emerged yesterday.
An “exclusive” report from the website Football Transfers claimed Man City still want to get a deal done for Paqueta ‘in the new year’.
READ: David Sullivan confirms current Paqueta situation as FA stay tight-lipped
But there’s major Paqueta Man City relief for West Ham after the exclusive new claim about a deal resurrection.
Firstly the source of the story lacks credibility. West Ham insiders have already criticised that site and others this week over stories being run about the Hammers.
The same site “exclusively” claimed West Ham have first option on Emile Smith Rowe as part of the deal which took Declan Rice to Arsenal. That was described as “completely made up” by the top source inside West Ham.
‘Nothing has changed’ – Key source responds to new Paqueta report
A second source of relief regarding this new Paqueta claim is the suggestion a deal could be back on in the new year. That’s despite the article stating “a move won’t materialise until the FA betting investigation into the midfielder is concluded”.
Well most investigations into such matters take at least a year. The investigation into Ivan Toney is believed to have gone on for nearly two years. And we know that a similar investigation into Granit Xhaka during his time at Arsenal lasted 16 months before he was cleared.
So the report’s claim that the move could be resurrected in the new year lacks any substance.
Finally, though, the death knell for this particular story comes from a key source inside West Ham speaking to Hammers News.
The source responded to the story by stating “nothing has changed” regarding West Ham’s midfield maestro.
And we know who we believe on this one.
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