Potter was always in favour of keeping the playerplaceholder image
Potter was always in favour of keeping the player | Getty Images
West Ham decided to keep hold of one of their best players despite late summer interest.
West Ham are said to have poured cold water on a transfer that would have seen them lose another of their top players. The Hammers lost Mohammed Kudus during the summer window, with the winger joining Tottenham, and there was plenty of speculation surrounding another of their top players.
Lucas Paquetá has been linked with an exit for around a year, largely owing to previous interest from Manchester City. Paquetá future was complicated by the presence of spot-fixing allegations that were cleared by the FA in the summer.
That paved the way for a move this summer, but it seems the player, or at least his camp, might have spoiled the move, with West Ham reportedly taking a very firm stance on social media leaks. Fabrizio Romano told It’s Called Soccer: “I can guarantee to you that if there wasn’t social media, Lucas Paqueta was an Aston Villa player now.
“Now, he’s at West Ham because the deal collapsed, because of the leaks, too early or maybe at a crucial stage of the negotiation and making people upset at West Ham. This can happen.”
The proposed move came about in the final days of the window, with Villa proposing a loan move with an obligation to buy, a format that is becoming more and more common due to spending rules. That deal was said to be worth £50million, with Everton and Tottenham also reportedly showing interest.
It emerged quickly after that West Ham had shut down the move, and that seemed to be because they didn’t want to lose one of their best players a stage of the window that would have restricted their ability to find a replacement. That still might have been the case, but Romano is claiming there was more at play.
West Ham boss Graham Potter said of Paquetá a day before deadline day: "Yes (I expect him to stay). The noise has been around Lucas for a long time and the way he conducts himself is incredible. He gave everything for the team again today and contributed with a goal and the win."
Continue Reading