Lucas Paqueta has sparked huge excitement at West Ham with what he has told Crysencio Summerville amid links to Aston Villa – leaving the Hammers dreaming.
West Ham have always been a rollercoaster of a football club.
Nothing proves that more than this latest weekend in the weird and wonderful world of West Ham – and another transfer saga involving Aston Villa.
The Hammers went through months of transfer back and forth with Aston Villa over Jhon Duran last summer and ended up being priced out of a move.
Now Aston Villa have been trying to sign Lucas Paqueta on the cheap, making a paid loan offer with an obligation to buy for an overall package of around £47m.
It has all been played out through transfer reporter Fabrizio Romano, who has won few friends at West Ham or Aston Villa with his updates.
West Ham star Paqueta at centre of Romano-led Villa saga
Clearly being fed information by certain parties to try and grease the wheels of a move, Romano even claimed Paqueta wanted to leave West Ham for Aston Villa.
The Italian reported that ‘Paqueta liked the Aston Villa project’.
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He was forced to row back on the claims that a ‘here we go is expected soon’ on Paqueta signing for Aston Villa when West Ham smashed Nottingham Forest 3-0.
It is difficult to know what Hammers fans should be most excited about after the brilliant victory at the City Ground.
The manner and execution of the performance and togetherness on display – all while keeping a clean sheet.
Lucas Paqueta scores during Nottingham Forest v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Or the stunning debut from £41m new boy Mateus Fernandes, who has finally brought the pace, athleticism, energy and tenacity to West Ham’s midfield that’s been missing since Declan Rice’s departure two years ago.
Then there is Paqueta playing, shining and celebrating by pledging his future to the Hammers amid claims he wanted to join Aston Villa.
As if all that wasn’t enough, there was the surprise inclusion and scintillating performance of Crysencio Summerville on the West Ham bench after nearly eight months out with injury.
Summerville was not expected back until after the international break.
The nature of Summerville’s injury in Potter’s first game back in January is one that can have serious implications for players who rely on speed.
There are always fears those players will lose half a yard of their pace.
What Paqueta told Summerville about West Ham amid Villa links
After the departure of Mohammed Kudus to Spurs in a hugely controversial move, there was a big hole to fill in the Hammers team.
Graham Potter’s side has looked painfully slow all over the pitch.
But with Fernandes and Summerville in the side, West Ham suddenly had that all-important ingredient needed to be competitive in the Premier League – pace.
And it showed with a performance that lights a fire under West Ham’s season and Potter’s tenure.
The way Paqueta played and celebrated has Hammers fans feeling a real connection to the team that has been missing for the last 19 months.
Apathy and negativity have turned to hope and positivity.
Now what Paqueta has told Summerville will have West Ham in dreamland amid the Aston Villa links.
Obviously while the window remains open, anything can happen in football.
Lucas Paqueta kisses the West Ham badge as fans celebrate his goal at Nottingham Forest and Crysencio Summerville joins in
Photo by Jon Hobley/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
So the threat of a big bid from Aston Villa could still loom large over the Paqueta situation – even if it seems unlikely given Unai Emery’s side have PSR issues.
Quality players feed off one another and football isn’t rocket science – the more you have, the better chance you have of being successful.
The transformation in West Ham’s performance when Summerville came on at Forest is a prime example of that fact.
Suddenly Forest couldn’t afford to double up on Jarrod Bowen and Paqueta, as they had Summerville to worry about.
Nuno Espirito Santo admitted Summerville completely changed the game in West Ham’s favour for that reason.
Having that extra quality and pace will make West Ham a completely different threat going forward.
While Paqueta clearly committed himself to the Hammers with his celebrations and actions, something he has said to Summerville means there could be some very good times ahead.
Paqueta’s exciting statement on Hammers future to Summerville
Taking to his Instagram Stories, Paqueta posted a picture of himself kissing the West Ham badge with Summerville on his shoulders.
Tagging Summerville in, it was accompanied by the message: “I’m glad you’re back bro, let’s go together,” along with heart and peace emojis.
Summerville clearly agrees and loved the message.
West Ham’s game-changer responded by re-posting Paqueta’s message and replying: “My brother,” along with a heart.
With Summerville on the left, Bowen on the right and Paqueta pulling the strings alongside Fernandes in midfield, West Ham will be a serious force going forward.
Potter will then have the likes of Tomas Soucek and Soungoutou Magassa providing the defensive steel and shield behind them.
Soucek got through so much selfless, disciplined defensive work for the team at Forest which will have gone unnoticed by some.
And he will chip in with his fair share of goals this season as always.
With Paqueta reaffirming his commitment to West Ham in the message to Summerville, that link-up has the potential to have the Hammers dreaming again.