A Newcastle United reporter has given West Ham a massive Lucas Paqueta boost after what he has heard from Eddie Howe.
With just over one week left of the window West Ham and Newcastle are far from done yet it seems.
Moyes has made seven signings this summer with over £120m spent as he reshapes his West Ham squad following a raft of departures.
Eddie Howe has had less of an overhaul after his January splurge. But the Magpies boss has added quality and Newcastle are looking all the better for it.
Newcastle are aiming to emulate West Ham by challenging for the top six.
And the two clubs have shared some column inches this summer when it comes to transfer targets.
Newcastle reportedly made – ultimately unsuccessful – 11th hour bids to hijack West Ham’s £30m deal with Rennes for Moroccan defender Nayef Aguerd and the move to sign Alphonse Areola.
The Hammers and Newcastle have also reportedly been locked in transfer battles over Jesse Lingard, Sven Botman and Hugo Ekitike in recent months.
Conor Gallagher and Armando Broja are another couple of players West Ham and Newcastle have both been linked with too.
West Ham are still actively looking for midfielders, both attacking and defensive.
And reports abound today that West Ham are in talks to sign Brazilian playmaker Paqueta (Sky Sports).
Paqueta has been heavily linked with Newcastle and Arsenal all summer.
“West Ham have made a bid worth €40m (£33.75m) for Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta,” Sky Sports states.
“The player’s agents are in London and want to conclude a deal with a Premier League club before the end of the window. Talks are continuing between the clubs.”
But given Newcastle are known admirers of Paqueta – and the fact Howe has said he is still pushing to sign quality players – some Hammers fans are understandably concerned the Magpies could beat them to the brilliant Brazilian.
Especially given the lure of teaming up with his compatriot and former Lyon teammate Bruno Guimaraes at St James’ Park.
But a Newcastle United reporter has given West Ham a massive Paqueta boost after what he has heard from Howe.
Sky Sports’ Newcastle man Keith Downie has taken to Twitter to address the Paqueta situation.
And he claims Newcastle are not interested in the Brazilian, hopefully giving West Ham a clear run at the player – who wants to play in the Premier League.
“Lots of people asking about Lucas Paqueta all window – and still,” Downie said on Twitter.
“My understanding is Newcastle don’t have an interest in the player this window.
“Potential for a midfielder to arrive on loan, but not the Brazilian.”
This is massive for West Ham and Moyes in their bid to get a deal done for Paqueta.
And the Hammers have their own Brazilian-Lyon link with Sao Paulo-born Emerson, who played alongside Paqueta on loan at Lyon last season, having joined the Hammers this week.
Whether West Ham can get a deal done for a player of Paqueta’s age, status and ilk remains to be seen.