West Ham are willing to accept an offer in the region of €45m (£39m) for midfielder Lucas Paqueta, according to Paparazzo Rubro-Negro.
The Flamengo club insider claims that the Brazilian side have been given encouragement after the player’s asking price dropped from €60m (£52m), and it has “opened the door” for negotiations to take place.
It could lead to an official bid being tabled “as early as Friday”, with Flamengo now more confident that an agreement can be reached between the two teams.
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Paqueta was left out of the squad for the 2-1 win over QPR in the FA Cup at the weekend due to speculation about a potential transfer away from the London Stadium.
What has Nuno said about Paqueta?
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against Tottenham, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo said he is hoping that the 28-year-old’s future will be sorted out soon:
“I think it’s a situation we have to solve. We always want our best players involved, so let’s try to sort the situation.”
Paqueta officially missed the QPR match due to a back problem, but some sources close to the Hammers have questioned whether the injury was genuine.
Could Paqueta stay at West Ham?
The Brazilian international’s future is clouded in uncertainty. There have been a lot of claims from the player side and the club.
Despite reports linking Paqueta with other Premier League clubs, such as Chelsea, Spurs and Aston Villa, it does appear as if the midfielder has his heart set on a return to Flamengo.
The Irons are, though, reluctant to let one of their best players go in the midst of a relegation battle. There are even suggestions that a sale could be sanctioned if the player is loaned back for the rest of the season, but that scenario seems unlikely.
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