Whilst West Ham might be preparing for life after Lucas Paquetá, the club have decided against a very high-priced option to replace him.
Recent speculation has suggested the Hammers are scouring Europe for some of the most highly sought-after youngsters to solve the creative hole in midfield.
As Claret & Hugh have reported previously, it is highly unlikely Paquetá will remain at West Ham in the event of him being cleared or receiving a short-term ban from football. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the club will sign any of the teenagers they’ve recently been linked with to load the bullets for Graham Potter’s new attack next season.
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A more senior player very much remains an option — but the chances of Carlos Soler filling the void are said to be zero.
A top transfer source told Claret & Hugh last week: “He’s just too expensive and hasn’t impressed enough.”
The on-loan PSG midfielder has not done nearly enough to warrant a permanent switch to the London Stadium. Even if the Spaniard had been in scintillating form, his £225k per week wages at Paris are completely prohibitive. While West Ham are currently paying less than half that wage with PSG subsidising the rest, Soler is understood to have rejected the notion of a wage drop.