Trevor Sinclair is thrilled to see West Ham United bring Lucas Paqueta to the Premier League after losing out to Premier League rivals Everton for £35 million Amadou Onana, speaking to talkSPORT (30 August, 10.50am).
During three winless, pointless and goal-less games – their worst beginning to a campaign in over 50 years – West Ham looked like a team crying out for a powerful, game-changing presence capable of grabbing a game by the proverbial scruff of the neck.
In short, they looked like a team crying out for Amadou Onana.
David Moyes’ side agreed a deal with Lille before Everton snatched one Onana from under their nose. So far, the 21-year-old has played just 120 minutes of action in Toffees colours. But he’s has already shown grit and guile in abundance, even if there are rough edges to smooth out.
West Ham lost out to Everton for Amadou Onana
“Onana, I was disappointed (West Ham) missed out on him. 6ft 4ins, a real physical presence. What I’ve seen of him at Everton, he looks the real deal,” Sinclair says, his mood brightened by the subsequent arrival of another Ligue 1 import.
“But to come back and get (Paqueta) over the line… it’s superb.”
After missing out on Onana, Luis Diaz, Matheus Nunes, Kalvin Phillips, Darwin Nunez and Raphinha, West Ham finally landed the marquee signing they’ve been looking for over the weekend. Paqueta, Brazil’s go-to number ten, joins in a club-record £51 million deal from Lyon.
It is Paqueta’s vision, unpredictability and surgeon’s scalpel of a through-ball that really catches the eye. Sinclair, however, believes the one-time AC Milan man can be just as effective without the ball.
“When you look at the number ten position and the players who have played there – Pablo Fornals, Manuel Lanzini, Said Benrahma – none of them, out of possession, have a real physical presence,” says Sinclair, who spent five years at Upton Park between 1998 and 2003.
“This boy comes in, he’s 6ft, he’s in decent shape. So when you talk about players pressing from the front, I think he’s going to be very good at that.
“Both footed, scores goals, really creative, one-touch football… looks like he’s gonna be the real deal. It’s an absolutely brilliant signing.”
West Ham have now signed eight new players during a busy summer.
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