Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur are tracking Arsenal and Newcastle United summer transfer target Lucas Paqueta, according to Football.London journalist Alasdair Gold.
The well-known and well-respected journalist has reported in Football.London that Tottenham have been looking at the Lyon midfielder for a while.
Gold has added that Tottenham need to move on players before they can make a big signing between now and the end of the summer transfer window.
Paqueta has been linked with Newcastle and Arsenal as well in the summer transfer window.
The Northern Echo reported this week that Arsenal and Newcastle are keen on securing the services of the Brazil international midfielder this summer.
Arsenal Technical Director Edu told Brazilian news outlet TNT Sports last month that he “really” likes Paqueta, and that he is a “big fan since long time” of his Brazilian compatriot.
Gold told Football.London: “Spurs have been tracking Lyon’s Brazil international Lucas Paqueta for a while. He adds plenty of versatility and fits the idea of a more advanced Conte number 10 that can create out wide and would provide the Italian with two players in every position if he signed with Richarlison able to be used either up front or on either flank.
“There’s plenty of interest in Paqueta with Newcastle and Arsenal among those linked to him and again as I said below Spurs want to get players out of the door first before they can move for anyone on a big deal.
“The Brazilian’s price tag, with three years left on his contract, has gone all over the place this summer with talk of a £68m one to a lower £33m one in recent days but Lyon owner Jean-Michel Aulas is not a man to let anyone go on the cheap.
“I just wonder whether if Paqueta were to leave the Ligue 1 side this summer than he would want to go somewhere he can start every week rather than a club like Spurs were the competition now for those attacking spots is intense.”
Could Tottenham sign Arsenal and Newcastle target Lucas Paqueta?
In our view, Tottenham Hotspur could be able to sign Lucas Paqueta from Lyon ahead of Arsenal and Newcastle United in the summer transfer window.
There is speculation that Lyon are willing to reduce their asking price for the Brazil international, and that would help.
Tottenham will play in the UEFA Champions League this season, and the North London club will also be looking to close the gap between themselves and Liverpool and Manchester City.
So Spurs would be very appealing to Paqueta.
The Lyon star made 32 starts and three substitute appearances in Ligue 1 last season, scoring nine goals and providing six assists in the process.
Paqueta also made five starts and four substitute appearances in the UEFA Europa League last season, scoring two goals and providing one assist in the process.
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