Newcastle United remain keen on signing Lyon playmaker Lucas Paqueta – and he is demanding around £180,000-a-week in wages.
Newcastle made a move to sign Paqueta during the January transfer window.
Reports in France suggested that Newcastle were offering Paqueta a deal worth around £180,000-a-week.
At that time, Paqueta was happy at Lyon and wanted to stay unless he was going to a bigger side in European competition.
Yet just weeks later, Paqueta’s friend and Lyon teammate Bruno Guimaraes decided to leave for Newcastle.
That showed the pulling power of the Magpies in light of their takeover, so can we really rule out a deal for Paqueta now?
The Chronicle claim that Paqueta will cost £58million to prise away from Lyon.
The Brazilian playmaker would then want a deal worth around £180,000-a-week – the wages Newcastle allegedly offered months ago.
Newcastle may simply return with the same offer and hope that the impact of Guimaraes helps convince Paqueta to follow.
After all, Paqueta went to watch Guimaraes in action for Newcastle last month and celebrated his goal on Twitter.
If anybody can sell Paqueta on the idea of snubbing Europe’s elite in favour of this Newcastle project, it’s Guimaraes.
The 24-year-old, formerly of Flamengo and AC Milan, has bagged nine goals and six assists in 37 outings for Lyon this season.
Primarily a number 10, Paqueta can also play a little deeper or even further forward if required.
Teaming Paqueta up with Guimaraes again has to be appealing to Newcastle, but the money involved is huge.
This ultimately depends on how big PIF want to go in their first summer transfer window at Newcastle.
If they flash the cash, don’t be surprised to see Paqueta reunite with Guimaraes and completely revolutionise the Newcastle midfield together.
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