Lucas Paquetá is once again linked with a potential departure from West Ham United. The Brazilian attacking midfielder could shake up the Premier League transfer market in the final days of the window, which is scheduled to close on 1 September.
For now, the clubs reportedly most interested are Tottenham and Aston Villa, according to the Daily Mail. The 28-year-old midfielder is said to be open to a new challenge after being cleared of any wrongdoing in relation to betting allegations, as confirmed by the English media.
Manchester City had previously pursued Paquetá in 2023 but withdrew following the FA’s investigation at the time. There is no indication the Citizens are actively pursuing him this summer.
Tottenham, Aston Villa or staying at West Ham: Paquetá’s options
Based on reports, Paquetá has three potential pathways: a move to the Spurs, a switch to Villa, or remaining with the Hammers. Manager Graham Potter expressed optimism about his captain’s future but stressed that “anything could happen” before the window closes, leaving the door open to negotiations.
West Ham have also been active in reinforcing their midfield. According to The Guardian, 22-year-old Harvey Elliott from Liverpool was on their radar. However, so far the club has only made a loan bid for Nottingham Forest’s Ibrahim Sangaré, 27, as reported by The Athletic.
A switch to Aston Villa is an option due to the club’s need to bolster their attacking options. Jacob Ramsey has been sold to Newcastle and Leon Bailey loaned to Roma. Alongside Paquetá, Villa have explored moves for Chelsea pair Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku, and have not ruled out a return for Marco Asensio. The Daily Mail notes Villa must be creative given financial constraints.
Tottenham, meanwhile, are in a different position. The Spurs attempted to sign Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze but were unsuccessful, with Gibbs-White remaining at Forest and Eze joining Arsenal. Paquetá has emerged as a target for Thomas Frank, particularly following James Maddison’s serious injury.
Other names mentioned by sources cited by ESPN include Maghnes Akliouche (Monaco), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig), and Adrien Rabiot, previously discarded by Olympique de Marseille after a dressing-room incident.
With the transfer window closing soon, Paquetá, his representatives, and West Ham have limited time to decide the next step. After the window shuts, he is expected to join the Brazil squad for the September FIFA dates, which include World Cup qualifying matches against Chile and Bolivia.
This article was originally published on Trivela.
