Manchester City may not be finished in the transfer market just yet.
Hugo Viana – Director of Football at the Etihad Stadium – did most of his work right at the start of the summer before the FIFA Club World Cup.
The man born in Barcelos quickly signed Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Ait-Nouri, along with Marcus Bettinelli, and only Sverre Nypan has arrived since in a £12m move from Rosenborg, a player who is expected to be loaned out.
Outgoings seem to be taking priority, with Everton in talks to sign Jack Grealish on loan for the 2025/26 campaign.
Now – however – Jorge Nicola has claimed that Manchester City still have eyes on a deal for Lucas Paqueta of West Ham, and could send the Aston Villa academy graduate to east London instead of Merseyside.
Manchester City willing to offer Jack Grealish to West Ham as Lucas Paqueta deal remains alive
The reliable Brazilian journalist was intending to merely find out more about stories linking the West Ham No.10 with a move to Flamengo.
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However, Nicola instead learned that Manchester City are working on a deal for Paqueta, which could see Grealish move to the London Stadium in an attempt to lower the £50m asking price.
The South American suggests Manchester City are “pushing” the England international towards east London to try and sign the Brazil international, adding that the Citizens have asked about the South American in each of the last three transfer windows.
What Pep Guardiola has previously said about Lucas Paqueta
The Manchester City boss will surely be pleased if Viana can get this deal over the line, based on what the Spaniard has said about the 27-year-old in the past.
Guardiola hailed Paqueta back in August 2024, saying: “Absolutely (he is a key man for West Ham).
“He’s an exceptional player, he can play in different roles.”
Paqueta also hugged Guardiola at the London Stadium before a Premier League clash between West Ham and Manchester City began in September 2023 – proving the South American has a lot of respect for the man born in Santpedor.
Should West Ham show an interest in taking Grealish as a replacement, Paqueta could soon be playing his football under the 54-year-old he embraced.