Newcastle United want Lucas Paqueta and are ready to offer up to €50million (£42million) in a bid to sign the Lyon playmaker before the transfer deadline.
The Magpies are on the verge of a breakthrough in their hunt for a new striker with Watford’s Joao Pedro on the verge of a £30million move.
Joao Pedro adds to Newcastle’s Brazilian contingent, joining midfielders Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton at St James’ Park.
There may yet be another Brazilian on the way in though with Newcastle still fancying signing Lyon playmaker Lucas Paqueta.
Newcastle United want Lucas Paqueta
Paqueta is a name that has been linked with Newcastle for months now and those rumours just aren’t going away.
The playmaker is best friends with Bruno Guimaraes, who left Lyon for a move to Newcastle in January.
Guimaraes has publicly admitted that he would like to see Paqueta join Newcastle, whilst claims from the North East suggested that Paqueta was already thinking about Newcastle months ago.
Sure enough, Newcastle are being linked with Paqueta once again.
French outlet Foot Mercato claim that Newcastle are ready offer around €45million to €50million (£38million to £42million) to sign Paqueta.
The Lyon star is viewed as an alternative target to James Maddison, with Leicester looking unlikely to sell in this window.
The question is whether Paqueta would actually fancy joining Newcastle.
Yes, the friendship with Guimaraes is huge and Newcastle fans would probably roll out the proverbial red carpet for him.
Paqueta could feasibly play in the Champions League though, and Newcastle don’t have any European football right now – meaning he would have to buy into the project.
With Lyon potentially open to selling, there could be a huge deal in the offing late into the window – and Newcastle may well try their luck with a bid for Paqueta.
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