Premier League strugglers West Ham United have set a key condition for sanctioning the sale of star player Lucas Paqueta to Brazilian heavyweights Flamengo in the winter transfer window.
Flamengo are seriously looking to sign Paqueta this winter, with the 28-year-old attacking midfielder also reportedly keen on a return to his boyhood club. However, West Ham United are reluctant to let go of Paqueta this month.
The Hammers are currently in the drop zone, with their abysmal record of three wins, five draws and thirteen losses affording them a meager tally of 14 points from 21 games and keeping them rooted to 18th place on the Premier League table.
With their current situation, West Ham United consider the Brazil international to be one of their most important players at the moment and believe he still has a key role to play as they look to avoid the murky waters of relegation this season.
In their bid to keep a hold of their star man, the Hammers have already knocked back an opening €35 million bid from Flamengo. But despite this initial rejection, the Brazilian side are reportedly ready to test the resolve of their Premier League counterparts by raising the offer to about €40 million.
An increased bid may not make much difference for Flamengo though with The Guardian reporting that West Ham United will only be open to agreeing a deal with Flamengo if the Brazilian giants will let Paqueta return to the London Stadium on loan for the remainder of this season.
Flamengo are unwilling to meet such conditions and it is believed that the Brazilian champions will be content to wait until the summer when they would potentially be able to acquire Paqueta’s service for an even cheaper fee.
One key factor that could swing the balance of these negotiations one way or another is the stance of the player himself. Paqueta appears to have grown disillusioned with life in England after battling betting allegations from the FA.
While he’s been cleared of any wrong-doing, the Brazilian has struggled to regain the spark that convinced West Ham United to sign him from Lyon for £51 million in 2022 and made him one of the most exciting players to watch in the Premier League.
