Lucas Paqueta appears to be keen on leaving West Ham in the January transfer window.
Nuno Espirito Santo left Paqueta out of the squad for the FA Cup clash against QPR amid doubts over his future at the London Stadium.
West Ham won the game 2-1, but there was a lingering feeling that Paqueta’s time at the club may be coming to an end.
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Flamengo willing to pay £34.7million for Lucas Paqueta
According to the Guardian, Flamengo are willing to pay £34.7million to secure Paqueta’s services in the January transfer window.
His absence on Sunday was a clear indicator that he wants out and Nuno did not want to include a player unwilling to stay and help in the fight against relegation.
However, despite that, West Ham are not keen on letting Paqueta leave and will look to do whatever they can in order to retain his services.
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What was the point in this then? 🤔
That task may have become more difficult as Fabrizio Romano has recently reported that the 28-year-old had agreed on personal terms with the Brazilian club.
Everything appears to be done on the player’s side, and it is now down to the two clubs to agree on a fee and the terms of his exit.
However, there is a possibility that, along with Luis Guilherme, Niclas Fullkrug, Callum Wilson and James Ward-Prowse, Paqueta is also on his way out this month.
What can West Ham do to convince Paqueta to stay?
The Hammers can reach an agreement with Flamengo for a lower fee if they are willing to let him stay put until the end of the season.
Ideally, cashing in on Paqueta at that valuation would give the Hammers the funds they need to sign a quality replacement.
However, Nuno believes that the chances of survival are increased with the Brazil international at the club, so he could be a part of those conversations with him.
There could be showdown talks held over the next 48 hours, and before the next time the Hammers boss holds a press conference, clarity is expected to be reached over the attacking midfielder’s future.
As things stand, it appears difficult to convince Paqueta to stay in the capital.
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