Still a chance for Paratici to sign £50m star for Spurs, he doesn’t want Arsenal move

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Tottenham wanted Lucas Paqueta in January and actually failed with a bid for the Lyon star during the January transfer window.

Tottenham have now added a midfielder in each of the transfer windows this year in order to bolster Antonio Conte’s squad.

Rodrigo Bentancur arrived from Juventus on deadline day in January before Yves Bissouma traded Brighton and Hove Albion for Spurs this summer.

Add in Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as well as Oliver Skipp and Tottenham appear to have a strong group of midfielders – but one more is still being linked.

Tottenham wanted Lucas Paqueta in January

It was Weston McKennie on Tuesday and now it’s Lucas Paqueta being linked with Tottenham.

L’Equipe claim that Tottenham offered €40million (£33.5million) for Paqueta during the January transfer window, but Lyon said no.

Lyon had agreed to sell fellow Brazilian Bruno Guimaraes to Newcastle United and didn’t want to lose another midfielder.

It’s stated that Tottenham remain a very real option for Paqueta this summer as he seeks to leave Lyon, but they want around €60million (£50million).

That would be something of a surprise given the midfielders at Conte’s disposal, but Paqueta is a little more creative and forward-thinking than the four in Conte’s ranks right now.

L’Equipe do though add that Manchester City are very interested in Paqueta; after all, Pep Guardiola loves signing a midfielder.

It’s bad news for Arsenal and Newcastle though. Both teams were keen on Paqueta but he isn’t really interested in either of them.

That’s despite Edu wanting his fellow Brazilian at Arsenal and close friend Guimaraes being at Newcastle.

Paqueta, 24, notched 10 goals and seven assists in all competitions last season, playing mostly as an attacking midfielder.

That role doesn’t really exist in Conte’s 3-4-3 setup at Tottenham, and deploying him in a deeper role is plausible but something of a luxury.

We can’t see Paqueta joining Tottenham this summer and actually find a move to England unlikely now Arsenal and Newcastle have effectively been ruled out.