Man City launch £70m move for Lucas Paqueta — but West Ham to demand more

Manchester City have reportedly made a £70million move for West Ham star Lucas Paqueta – much to the horror of Hammers fans.

Avid followers of the east Londoners are just about coming to terms with losing Declan Rice to Arsenal this summer, not to mention their own failed transfer pursuits. But things could be about to get a whole lot worse with news that City are keen on Paqueta.

According to Brazilian publication Ge Globo, Pep Guardiola has made a £70m bid to sign the midfielder. However, West Ham are understood to be reluctant to sell the 25-year-old and are expected to ask for more than City’s initial offer.

Paqueta had a tough start to life at the London Stadium but found his feet towards the end of the season as the Hammers won the Europa Conference League. He scored four goals in his Premier League debut campaign after making the move from Lyon.

Predictably, City’s apparent bid for Paqueta has sent West Ham Twitter into meltdown. One fan wrote: “If Lucas Paqueta is sold to Manchester City, I don’t even want to think about the scenes at our first home game.”

Someone else said: “Selling Lucas Paqueta and Declan Rice in the same transfer window would be an absolute disaster.” As a third Twitter user wrote: “Statements of the bleeding obvious part 346: If West Ham sell Paqueta this season it won’t go down well with West Ham fans.”

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The Hammers have already lost arguably their best player in the form of Declan Rice this summer. A deal totalling £105m ensured West Ham were well rewarded when selling to Arsenal, and much of that money is now being put to good use.

Indeed, Edson Alvarez will be Rice’s direct replacement to the tune of £35m. Elsewhere, the Daily Mail and Athletic both confirm a move tipped to cost £32m is being accelerated for Southampton captain, James Ward-Prowse.

However, West Ham fans will be dismayed to learn remarkable reports coming out of Brazil regarding Lucas Paqueta are not wide of the mark.

Indeed, Globo Esporte claimed through the night that Man City have bid £70m for the Brazil international.

Paqueta, 25, cost £51m (including future add-ons) when plucked from Lyon last summer. The classy midfielder shone in his first season in the capital and grew increasingly influential as the season wore on.

Losing Paqueta in the same window as Rice would be a bitter pill to swallow for David Moyes. But according to various sources, it’s a very real possibility.

Fabrizio Romano tweeted Man City have “concrete interest” in Paqueta before confirming talks between the club and player have already taken place.

Romano did offer one crumb of comfort when suggesting the deal “won’t be easy” to conclude for City. However, that’s not a view shared by the Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg.

Adding his take, Steinberg first acknowledged the Brazilian reports regarding City and Paqueta are “correct”.

Furthermore, Steinberg stated West Ham are “facing a battle” to retain Paqueta and noted it will be “difficult” to resist if Man City “push hard.”

On the subject of the player’s stance, Globo Esporte reported Paqueta ‘hopes that the negotiation will also be advantageous to the London team’.

In other words, he’s not against leaving, though hopes West Ham can make as big of a profit as possible if he does go.

Regarding West Ham’s options from here on out, Globo Esporte concluded West Ham will likely push for a higher fee if it becomes apparent Man City can’t be fended off.