Aston Villa’s reported pursuit of Lucas Paqueta could end in disappointment, as it’s suggested that the playmaker could stay at West Ham United, who don’t wish to sell.
The 28-year-old has emerged as a potential solution for Unai Emery late in the transfer window, as we look to add attacking reinforcements to offer more creativity and cutting edge in the final third.
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Villa have failed to score in our opening two Premier League games this season and have looked devoid of quality in that particular area of the pitch, and having allowed Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey to move on this month, we’re certainly short in that department as we look to compete on multiple fronts again this season.
According to The Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg though, it may not be Paqueta who emerges as our solution as he reports that the Brazilian international is staying at West Ham unless something drastic happens, as despite his desire to join Villa, our Premier League rivals are not keen to allow him to leave just a day before the transfer deadline.
Further, after initially reporting that Villa were closing in on a £47m deal to sign the Hammers ace, Fabrizio Romano now claims that despite Paqueta wanting the move, West Ham are not approving the exit with Graham Potter eager to keep him at the club.
It’s added that Villa are continuing to push to reach an agreement, but ultimately if West Ham are not open to agreeing a deal, then it’s a pursuit that is perhaps going to inevitably end in disappointment.
Time will tell if we have alternative targets in mind to move quickly to address our issues, namely Marco Asensio who has continued to be linked with a return to Villa this summer after his loan stint from Paris Saint-Germain in the second half of last season, or if other names emerge.
There is undoubtedly a sense of disappointment though that the Paqueta move seems further off than it did less than a day after it was suggested that a move could be close, and so we’ll wait to see what credible sources provide updates in the coming hours with the deadline rapidly approaching and Villa in need of adding quality to the squad.
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