While looking into Flamengo’s interest in Lucas Paquetá, Brazilian journalist Jorge Nicola ended up uncovering something quite different.
According to him, Manchester City remain determined to sign the West Ham midfielder and are now discussing a new formula to get the deal done. Rather than paying the full £50m, City would offer a lower fee and include Jack Grealish as part of the package.
[Nicola explains in his YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlMwiuUsZZ0&ab_channel=CanaldoNicola) that this idea came up as he investigated Flamengo’s plan to bring Paquetá back to Brazil. But instead of news from Rio, he found fresh movement from Manchester, with City potentially “pushing” Grealish to West Ham to help make the deal more palatable.
He also pointed out that this is not a new obsession. Manchester City have reportedly enquired about Paquetá in each of the last three transfer windows, and despite last year’s failed attempt due to the FA betting investigation, they’ve never fully walked away.
Grealish, now 29, has had an inconsistent spell at the Etihad and could be among the names Guardiola is open to moving on from. Whether West Ham would accept him as part of the operation is another question, not least because of his wages and profile.
As for Paquetá, the transfer noise hasn’t stopped. With the betting investigation officially closed, the path is now clear for a move, if someone can meet the conditions. Manchester City, it seems, are exploring a new angle.