Alious
West Ham United might be quietly planning for a future without Lucas Paqueta, with emerging reports suggesting they’re eyeing Manchester City’s promising talent James McAtee.
The situation brings an interesting twist to what’s been a complicated chapter in Paqueta’s career.
The 27-year-old Brazilian’s time at West Ham has taken a challenging turn this season, with his performances notably dropping below his usual standards.
The backdrop to this dip in form is his ongoing legal battle with the FA over alleged spot-fixing charges – allegations which Paqueta continues to strongly deny.
It’s quite a turn of events from earlier this year when Manchester City were reportedly preparing to shell out up to £85 million for his services. Now, the only concrete interest has come from considerably less prestigious quarters, including his former club Flamengo.
The Hammers’ interest in McAtee, reported by The Sun, feels particularly telling.
The 22-year-old City prospect, despite limited Premier League exposure this season, has already opened his Champions League account with a goal against Slovan Bratislava on October 1st.
He’s made six appearances overall for City this season, though mostly away from Premier League action.
A potential £20 million deal for McAtee could signal the beginning of the end for Paqueta at the London Stadium.
While West Ham hold some cards with Paqueta’s contract running until 2027 (with an option for an additional year), his ongoing legal issues make it unlikely they’ll recoup anything close to the £85 million figure that was being discussed during City’s interest.
The situation presents a stark financial reality for West Ham – potentially having to accept a significant loss on their Brazilian star, while simultaneously looking to invest in McAtee as his replacement.
It’s a complex puzzle that could reshape the club’s midfield dynamics in the coming months.
Alious
