According to a report from BBC, Manchester City have shown keen interest in West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta. The Brazilian made a move to the Hammers from Lyon for a sum of £36.5 million during the previous summer and played a significant role in their triumph in the Europa Conference League.
While City have initiated contact with the Hammers, they have not yet submitted an official bid. It remains plausible that they might evaluate West Ham’s determination as Pep Guardiola aims to reinforce his squad following the triumphant Treble achievement in the previous season and the departures of Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.
Paqueta’s Debut Season With West Ham United
The Brazilian talent had a successful debut season with West Ham in the previous campaign as he produced some impressive displays in the attacking third. Paqueta banged in four goals and grabbed three assists in 28 matches for West Ham last season in the English first division.
He anchored the midfield well by averaging 2.5 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 1.1 clearances, 1.9 shots, 1.2 dribbles and 1.1 key passes per 90 minutes in the Premier League. He was even been tidy when distributing the ball from midfield after making 80.2% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
Paqueta’s contract with the East London club lasts until the summer of 2027. Hence, the Hammers will be reluctant to sell him this summer, and they will exhibit a strong hesitance to relinquish another pivotal asset from David Moyes’ squad, a sentiment exacerbated by Declan Rice’s substantial £105 million transfer to Arsenal.Thus, it won’t be easy to for the Sky Blues to land him in this transfer window.
Should Manchester City Boss Pep Guardiola Make A Bid?
Lucas Paqueta is a talented attacking midfielder who has the potential to become one of the best in Europe. He is a good dribbler, passer, and finisher, and he is also good at creating chances for his teammates.
Paqueta is a versatile player who can play in a number of positions. He can play as an attacking midfielder, a central midfielder, or even as a winger. This versatility makes him a valuable asset to West Ham and his arrival at Etihad would offer the same to Pep Guardiola.
Should Paqueta join, it could prompt City to utilize Bernardo Silva in the role of a right winger, a strategy frequently adopted towards the conclusion of their triumphant Treble-winning season. Phil Foden could also find himself positioned there, with Paqueta introducing additional midfield possibilities alongside the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Julian Alvarez, and the newly acquired Mateo Kovacic.
Guardiola’s astute identification of Paqueta as a potential target reflects well on his scouting prowess. If pursued, it has the potential to challenge West Ham’s determination, inviting City to submit a bid.
