West Ham United are prepared to sell Lucas Paquetá this month only if the deal includes an agreement for him to be loaned back for the remainder of the season, a condition that is meeting resistance from Flamengo. The Brazilian club saw an initial €35m bid rejected and are willing to increase their offer to around €40m, but are reluctant to send Paquetá back to London, believing they could wait until the summer and secure him for less.
Paquetá has made it clear he wants to return to Brazil after a difficult period in England, having grown disillusioned following spot-fixing allegations that derailed a proposed move to Manchester City in 2023. Although he was cleared last year, the episode has affected him emotionally and coincided with a dip in form. West Ham, however, are fighting relegation and fear that losing one of their most talented players mid-season could prove disastrous, with the club currently seven points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest.
The 27-year-old joined West Ham from Olympique Lyonnais in 2022 for £51m but has struggled for consistency since the FA investigation became public. He has reported a minor knock and is a doubt for Saturday’s game against Tottenham Hotspur, while sources suggest he asked to be left out of the recent FA Cup win over QPR.
Selling Paquetá would free up funds for defensive reinforcements, with West Ham yet to keep a clean sheet since August. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo admitted the situation must be resolved quickly, stressing that Paquetá remains one of his best players but acknowledging the need for a solution that suits both club and player.
