The Lucas Paqueta sideshow distracting West Ham ahead of one of their biggest games of the season has taken another huge twist after a meeting between the player and head coach Nuno Espirito Santo.
There has been incessant and conflicting speculation over the situation surrounding Lucas Paqueta at West Ham all week.
Club insiders claimed Paqueta refused to play for the Hammers in the FA Cup win over QPR last weekend as he tries to force through a move to boyhood club Flamengo.
There has been an obvious backlash from a large section of West Ham fans, many of whom are demanding the Brazilian be sold as a result.
As the week has progressed, there has been claim and counterclaim from England and Brazil as to what is going on.
After pushing for a move away in the summer, the 28-year-old ended up staying in east London but Paqueta made it clear this would be his final season at West Ham.
Conflicting claims over Paqueta’s West Ham future
Flamengo have reportedly seen their advances rejected by the Irons thus far. But they’re not the only club interested.
London rivals Chelsea made a shock offer to West Ham for Paqueta this week.
How will you LOOK BACK on Lucas Paqueta’s West Ham career? 🇧🇷
Rate his Hammers career out of 10
Paqueta himself responded to a bid from Spurs after they reportedly made it clear to the Hammers and the player’s camp they were prepared to trump Flamengo’s offer.
All eyes have been on whether Paqueta will be available to face Spurs at the weekend.
West Ham’s owners warned Paqueta of the consequences after a journalist claimed he could ‘go on strike’ to force his Flamengo return.
That came amid conflicting reports over whether he had been turning up for training at Rush Green.
It has since been claimed Paqueta missed the QPR game due to a back injury and has not been able to train with the squad for the same reason.
But Hammers insider ExWHUemployee stated Paqueta has been at Rush Green.
The story out of Brazil has changed on an almost hourly basis in the last 48 hours.
Now there has been a major West Ham twist after Nuno Espirito Santo’s meeting with Paqueta escalates to David Sullivan, claim Brazil sources.
One line repeated by reporters in Brazil this week has been that Paqueta would meet with the manager to plead with him to let him leave for Flamengo.
Sources: Nuno to ask Sullivan to let Paqueta leave West Ham
Paqueta’s first – and boyhood – club want him back before their transfer window closes in March.
Up to now it is claimed they have offered around £32.5m for West Ham’s record £51m signing.
Lucas Paqueta ‘wants to leave West Ham’ in the midst of a relegation battle – what’s your reaction?!
What was the point in this then? 🤔
The Hammers are said to be reluctant to sell mid-season and want around £10m more to even consider it.
Now a meeting is said to have taken place between Paqueta and Nuno which has resulted in the Hammers boss agreeing to ask Sullivan to let the midfielder leave if Flamengo meet the club’s valuation.
That’s according to Brazilian reporter Pablo Rua, who says Paqueta spoke with Nuno on Wednesday.
Rua claims Nuno stated he will speak with Sullivan to advise him to ‘release the player immediately’ should Flamengo pay the desired fee.
It is stated that ‘Paqueta managed to win over the coach’ with his reasons for wanting to leave now.
In addition to that information, Rua also says Flamengo are now expected to send an official bid of £42.5m to West Ham by Friday.
“The expectation is that the club will be able to finalise the signing by the end of the week,” Rua says.
Rua is not the only Brazilian journalist making such claims either.
Friday valuation meeting key to Paqueta exit
UOL’s Rodrigo Mattos says West Ham have signalled for the first time to Flamengo that they accept selling Paqueta for the right price.
Mattos states the Hammers have not yet made a specific demand on what price that is.
But he says values will be discussed in a meeting between West Ham and Flamengo on Friday.
If accurate, one would have to assume the outcome of that meeting will dictate whether Paqueta plays against Spurs – with conflicting reports over his availability regardless.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
