A deal for West Ham to sell Lucas Paqueta to his boyhood club Flamengo has ‘never been so close’ after the Brazilian giants met a key David Sullivan demand.
That’s according to sources in Brazil, who claim Lucas Paqueta may now finally be on his way out of West Ham for a return to his first club, Flamengo.
Paqueta had a second round of face-to-face talks with Hammers boss Nuno Espirito Santo in midweek in which the 28-year-old reiterated his desire to leave the relegation-threatened club.
After that meeting, it was claimed by sources in Brazil that West Ham could finally accept an offer from Flamengo for Paqueta after agreeing to pay around £38m.
Predictions that an agreement would be reached on Thursday night proved unfounded, though, after a twist in negotiations.
Paqueta saga finally coming to an end for West Ham?
It has been claimed that West Ham were demanding more money and different payment terms for a player they had no intention of selling heading into the January transfer window.
Especially with the club facing a battle for their Premier League lives.
How many points would West Ham have taken from their last two games if Lucas Paqueta had been playing? 🤔
Maybe I’m harsh, but I just don’t think he suits this team anymore…
The playmaker has angered many Hammers fans with his attitude and demands to leave behind the scenes.
West Ham and the club’s supporters stood steadfastly behind Paqueta during his two-year spot-fixing case ordeal.
But the moment he was cleared, he tried to push to leave in the summer with Fabrizio Romano adamant he wanted to join Aston Villa.
After stating it would be his final season with West Ham, Paqueta has lasted just six months before asking to be allowed to leave again.
Brazilian sources have claimed Paqueta has been having secret calls with Flamengo’s manager since early December in order to plot his West Ham escape.
In midweek, world superstar Vinicius Junior leaked that Paqueta’s West Ham exit is imminent when he was asked about his best friend’s future in a live TV interview.
Nuno has called on the club to resolve the situation quickly as Paqueta continues to train away from the main group.
West Ham deal for Paqueta ‘never been so close’
Now a West Ham deal for Paqueta has ‘never been so close’ as Flamengo meet a key David Sullivan demand.
Sullivan is West Ham’s de facto director of football since the sackings of technical director Tim Steidten last January and his replacement, head of recruitment Kyle Macaulay.
How much money would it take for you to sell Lucas Paqueta? 🤔
The Hammers chief has been pushing for more money from Flamengo – as is West Ham’s right.
Sullivan has also not agreed with Flamengo’s payment plan terms and performance-based clauses needed to activate certain add-ons.
Now a top Brazilian source who has been across the Paqueta saga from the start, believes a breakthrough is agonisingly close.
With the January transfer window closing next Monday night, West Ham will want to agree a deal in time to be able to sign a replacement and other players with the money.
So every hour counts right now.
Journalist Pablo Rua claims Flamengo have now given in to Sullivan’s payment demands for Paqueta.
The Black and Red are said to have formalised a new proposal to West Ham, now for around £36m but as a fixed fee.
Flamengo meet David Sullivan’s Paqueta payment demands
Flamengo removed the performance-related add-ons it had originally proposed to West Ham and has kept only the instalment payments.
In an ‘urgent’ update, Rua claims “Flamengo have never been so close to signing Paqueta” and that they believe they will receive a positive response from Sullivan over a deal.
Adama Traore is expected to sign for West Ham next following the arrivals of strike duo Taty Castellanos and Pablo and little-known winger Keiber Lamadrid.
West Ham revealed they see Lamadrid as a ‘lottery ticket’.
Hammers News revealed yesterday that West Ham are making room for at least one more signing before the window closes.
But with Guido Rodriguez following Andy Irving out of the London Stadium exit and Paqueta’s move looking imminent, it may be that a defender and midfielder are on the list.
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