Cast your mind back two years, to a time when West Ham were on the cusp of selling Lucas Paquetá to Manchester City for £80m.
The £105m sale of then club captain Declan Rice to Arsenal had gone through, and manager David Moyes had targeted Manchester City’s Cole Palmer as the Brazilian playmaker’s replacement.
Less than five days later, it was announced that the FA were investigating Paquetá for betting irregularities surrounding yellow cards collected while on West Ham duty.
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The rest, as they say, is history. The Hammers’ record signing saw his dream move to Manchester City collapse—and two years on, we’re still waiting for a result.
The impact on Paquetá has been significant. The FA’s investigation, hearing, and decision have dragged on for 24 months. The hearing itself has long since concluded, and one assumes the decision has been made. After all, it was the FA who appointed the three-man panel to rule on the 27-year-old’s guilt. The governing body have investigated, ruled, and will sentence—as police, judge, jury, and executioner in the process.
Yet while we wait, yet another West Ham transfer window appears to be suffering due to the FA’s reluctance—or inability—to announce their findings.
As West Ham fans, we’re sick of hearing how skint we are and how this is hindering such a crucial window. Wasn’t the move to the Olympic Stadium supposed to insulate the club from these situations and elevate us into the elite?
Unfortunately, the reality is that both West Ham and Graham Potter need either the funds from a Paquetá sale—or at the very least, clarity on whether he’ll be available next season.
Paqueta saga will enter its third year in August
Potter needs a Paqueta resolution to plan for transfer window
I’ve no doubt Potter has identified creative attacking midfielders to sign. But realistically—how can he move without knowing the situation?
The FA have taken far too long to reach a conclusion, a delay that’s impacted Paquetá’s mental health and ability to secure new employment.
For West Ham, the cost has been significant. Let’s just hope a decision is finally near—because the thought of this sorry saga dragging into a third year is unbearable.