After the exit of Declan RIce, it was starting to go well for West Ham United in the transfer market with new faces possibly coming in, including Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Ajax’s Edson Alvarez.
But whilst Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth delivered the ‘good news’ about Harry Maguire possibly heading to the London Stadium, he also had some ‘bad transfer news’ for West Ham United fans about Lucas Paqueta.
Manchester City are knocking on the door for the Brazil international, as transfer expert Sheth shared that Paqueta’s ‘head has been turned’, as he told The Transfer Show on Sky Sports (09/08/23 at 5:05 pm).
That’s the last thing West Ham fans wanted to hear because Rice and Paqueta were David Moyes’ two key midfield players.
Whilst the Englishman’s exit was expected and planned for, the possible departure of Paqueta wasn’t after signing for the club last summer – and that’s a big blow, even if you get new faces in.
Nonetheless, Sheth shared an update on Man City’s interest in Paqueta and what he has been told by those from the West Ham side.
“We were bringing goods news with Harry Maguire potentially agreeing that deal with West Ham,” said Sheth.
“But, with that, there is a little bit of bad news as well because West Ham United have now received an initial approach, from Manchester City, about their Brazilian midfielder, Lucas Paqueta.
“We are told that what was verbally proposed, it should be noted that it wasn’t a formal bid from Manchester City, was in no way deemed acceptable. That was the phrase I was given earlier this morning.
“It was thought that West Ham won’t even consider selling Lucas Paqueta, unless there were bids around the £85 million+ mark. That’s not to say that if someone gets to that figure, ‘yes you can go’. They don’t want to sell him, for obvious reasons.
“He still has four years left on his contract. There isn’t any real pressure to sell him. But the bad news, in some ways, because of his interest, we are told that Paqueta’s head has been turned.”
West Ham need to get faces in
No-one hasn’t arrived yet and it’s not helping the mood amongst the fans ahead of West Ham’s opening Premier League game against Bournemouth.
Edson Alvarez is seemingly edging closer to signing on the dotted line, whilst there are mixed messages about Maguire, including Gary Neville’s thoughts about his possible transfer.
Either way, if the Hammers get off to a slow start, added to their lack of incomings this summer, then it’s only going to increase the negative feel around the place.
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