In a slightly surprising development as we approach the final few weeks of the summer transfer window, Manchester City are showing serious interest in West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta. The Hammers are busy trying to conclude a number of deals themselves right now, but may consider letting the Brazilian go if the price is right. Here’s a look at how much Lucas Paqueta is worth and what the possible Man City transfer fee may be.
Paqueta only moved to West Ham last summer from Lyon but has gone on to cement himself as a regular fixture in David Moyes’ team. He appeared in 28 Premier League games last season, starting 27 of those and played the full game in Prague as the English side defeated Fiorentina to win the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Having already lost Declan Rice this summer, West Ham would be reluctant to sell another important midfield player. However when treble winners Manchester City come calling, it can be difficult for other Premier League clubs to hold onto star players and should Paqueta depart, it could spark a frantic end to the transfer window in East London.
James Ward-Prowse is already on the brink of joining the club from Southampton to bolster their midfield options while a bid has been accepted for Harry Maguire. However, when adding the likely Paqueta transfer fee to the £105m received from Arsenal for Declan Rice, West Ham would still have significant funds to potentially spend on further arrivals.
How much is Lucas Paqueta worth?
Lucas Paquetá wants Manchester City. Club to club negotiations continue as City will bid again — after initial verbal approach for £70m rejected. 🔵🇧🇷
Players can be included in the deal, as reported yesterday.
City don’t want to overpay but preparing new verbal approach. pic.twitter.com/DKeAKYVKDL
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 10, 2023
Manchester City have already reportedly tabled a £70m bid for the 25 year old. As first offers go, it’s already a high one which feels like a more than fair reflection of Lucas Paqueta’s market value.
To put things in some perspective, even a £70m transfer would represent the third highest fee Manchester City have ever paid for a player with only Jack Grealish and recent addition Josko Gvardiol costing more.
Given West Ham have rejected the proposal, the fee could ultimately rise to somewhere in the region of £80m which would be more in line with their valuation. That would take things past the £77.6m City have just paid for Gvardiol, however it’s possible that negotiations between the two clubs could ultimately lead to a player plus cash deal with West Ham badly in need of fresh additions.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Kalvin Phillips could be possible options as makeweights in the transfer. The situation is complicated slightly given some of Paqueta’s former clubs may be due a cut of any transfer fee which would make some kind of player exchange even more appealing from a West Ham perspective.
Lucas Paqueta previous transfer fees
This wouldn’t be the first time that Lucas Paqueta has made a big money transfer. Despite only being 25, he’s already been the subject of some very expensive moves.
Paqueta emerged as a bright prospect in his native Brazil with Flamengo before transferring to Milan in early 2019 for a fee of around €35m. However he struggled to make a huge impact in Serie A, dropping to a mostly back-up role during the 2019/20 season and only managing to score one league goal during his time in Milan, despite arriving with a reputation for being a goalscoring midfielder player.
A €20m switch to Lyon followed and it was during two seasons in Ligue 1 where Paqueta truly blossomed into the player he is today. He made 59 league starts for Lyon, scoring 18 times during a spell which also saw Paqueta establish himself as a regular in the Brazilian national side.
It wasn’t long before he was on the move again though with West Ham agreeing what was described as a club record deal for the Lyon player last summer. The initial fee was reported at £36.5m with the potential to rise to £50m. It felt like a lot of money at the time, but West Ham have been quickly vindicated by their decision to spend big on Paqueta and should net a huge transfer profit should they ultimately sell the player to Pep Guardiola’s City.
