Claret & Hugh have been informed that West Ham have a gentleman’s agreement — or, to use the precise wording, an “understanding” — with Lucas Paquetá that he will be allowed to leave the club at the end of the season.
However, that agreement comes with one major caveat that could derail the Brazilian’s desired return to Flamengo.
Paquetá has publicly admitted that he is interested in re-joining his boyhood club, with Filipe Luís also expressing a wish to see him back in Rio. The midfielder revealed that while he was tempted in the summer, he did not want to “force” a move out of respect for West Ham.
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Flamengo Well Short of West Ham’s Valuation
Claret & Hugh have been informed by a top transfer source that Flamengo remain miles away from meeting the asking price for West Ham’s record signing.
“They [Flamengo] didn’t bid in the summer. The last time they made an offer was a loan deal with a £20m buy clause. West Ham turned down nearly £50m from Aston Villa THIS summer. They’ll sell Paquetá — but not on the cheap.”
The message from the London Stadium is clear: Flamengo can’t afford Lucas Paquetá, and West Ham have no intention of lowering their valuation.
While the club are prepared to honour their understanding with the player, any transfer will only happen on West Ham’s terms — and that likely rules out a romantic return to Brazil anytime soon.