West Ham United’s fourth most expensive signing ever is open to joining former club this summer

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West Ham United face the very real prospect of losing one of our biggest ever signings this summer.

Julen Lopetegui has come into the London Stadium like a whirlwind, and has transformed the West Ham squad with eight new signings.

However, the Spaniard’s attention could now switch to offloading some players, in an effort to balance the books.

Lopetegui has actually suggested that his summer transfer business is far from finished, but his main priority will surely be to move on the deadwood now.

That said, the latest player to be linked with a London Stadium exit certainly doesn’t fit into the ‘deadwood’ category.

Could the Hammers really be prepared to sell one of our best players in order to help fund further new arrivals this summer?

It seems like that could well be the case…

Lucas Paqueta open to leaving West Ham

The 26-year-old joined the Hammers from Lyon this time two years ago, for a guaranteed £36.7 million, excluding add-ons (The Guardian).

According to Transfermarkt, the mercurial Lucas Paqueta is the Hammers’ fourth most expensive signing of all-time, behind Sebastien Haller, Max Kilman and Mohammed Kudus.

The Brazilian has been brilliant for West Ham, but his world has been turned upside down over the past year, after it emerged that he was being investigated for his role in potential betting breaches.

He has now been charged for the alleged offences, and if he’s found guilty he reportedly could receive a lifetime ban.

That is obviously hugely concerning for Paqueta himself and West Ham as a club.

If a decent offer were to come in for him this summer, it would not surprise me in the least if we sold him, despite what he offers us.

And that now could well be a reality, because Gazeta do UrUbu are reporting that Flamengo are lining up an ‘attractive financial offer’ to bring the Brazilian midfielder back home.

And what’s more, it is claimed that Lucas Paqueta is open to the idea of rejoining Flamengo from West Ham this summer.

In an ideal world, the former Lyon man would be cleared of the all charges levelled against him and then remain at the London Stadium for the remainder of his career.

It’s highly unlikely that those two things will happen though, and I really wouldn’t be shocked to see him leave before deadline day on August 30th.