Tim Sherwood thinks Lucas Paqueta was putting himself in the shop window despite his horror show during West Ham United’s 4-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Sunday.
Even though Tim Sherwood thinks Lucas Paqueta is a ‘class’ player and perhaps David Moyes’ ‘best player’, he made it clear that the midfielder was at fault for two of the opening goals West Ham United conceded at Villa Park.
The Brazil star failed to track his fellow countryman Douglas Luiz, who opened the scoring from the edge of the box, before his wayward back pass in his own final third resulted in a Villa penalty.
Even though the Hammers managed to pull a goal back through Jarrod Bowen, they couldn’t stop Villa’s forward line from finding the back of the net again, with Ollie Watkins and Leon Bailey enjoying themselves to goals.
Lucas Paqueta was played in a wider role over the weekend, but Sherwood thinks he needs to be used as a number 10, as he slammed the player for being ‘self-indulgent’ and ‘almost showcasing himself for the next move’, as he told Premier League Productions (22/10/23 at 7:10 pm).
In the summer, there were well-documented rumours that Manchester City wanted to take the quick-thinking playmaker on board.
But, instead, they pushed for Wolves’ Matheus Nunes, with West Ham breathing a sigh of relief that they didn’t lose another key player in the summer.
Despite that, Sherwood feels that Lucas Paqueta could yet be pushing for a move ahead of the January transfer window opening.
Lucas Paqueta putting himself in the transfer shop window
“I would play him as a ten,” said Sherwood. “He has so much ability. He is so comfortable on the ball. His range of passing is fantastic. He has an eye for a goal and he can drift in positions.
“Where you don’t want him in on the ball in his own final third because he takes too many touches – it’s audacious some of the stuff he does. It’s just class.
“But it’s almost like he is showcasing himself for the next move. He has got loads of self-indulgence in him.
“He sleeps, lets Douglas Luiz go and costs them the first goal – then it’s 2-0 and it’s all down to him and he’s their best player.”
Will West Ham keep Lucas Paqueta?
If a team in the Champions League comes knocking for Paqueta, it will be interesting to see what West Ham does.
At the end of the day, they have proven that money talks and they are willing to sell.
But, after winning the Europa Conference League last season, they want to kick on and the only way they can do that is by keeping their best players.
Plus, the new faces that have come in, such as James Ward-Prowse, have made very good starts.
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