Newcastle United are said to be ready to make a move for West Ham star Lucas Paqueta as they look to spark fresh optimism and lift the mood on Tyneside after a challenging summer transfer window.
While it is claimed Newcastle are unsure how easy a deal will be with the Hammers, the Magpies may well have two trump cards.
West Ham’s PSR issues this summer are well documented.
Newcastle are no strangers to battling with spending restrictions.
On paper the Magpies are the richest sports club on the planet never mind football.
But Eddie Howe has had to suffer what West Ham are going through right now, selling players he’d prefer to keep in order to comply with PSR and fund new additions.
Window pain puts West Ham star back in Newcastle’s sights
Last summer was a prime example with young stars Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh having to be sold by the Geordies despite the vast Saudi wealth behind the club.
The Hammers have been forced to sell Mohammed Kudus to bitter rivals Spurs – the first deal between the two clubs for over 14 years.
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That infuriated West Ham fans but the club’s board continue to insist they must sell to buy.
Given what has been claimed by the owners about £100m plus losses coming in the next accounts, West Ham’s PSR situation would be even more acute had they not sold Declan Rice for a 100 per cent profit two years ago.
West Ham’s owners provided a big transfer update this week, stating they must still offload fringe players in order to make further signings.
But the future of Lucas Paqueta has also been in the spotlight.
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta in action during the pre-season tour of America
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The Brazilian is free to continue his career after being cleared of spot-fixing after a two-year saga.
Paqueta was in the process of being sold to Man City for £80m when allegations first emerged in August 2023.
The investigation collapsed what Paqueta described at the time as a “dream move”.
And the subsequent unproven charges have seen speculation reignite that Paqueta – West Ham’s record £51m signing and joint highest earner on £150k per week – could now be sold.
Talk of a cut-price deal has been summarily dismissed by West Ham – who insist they want between £60-70m for the Brazil playmaker.
Now desperate Newcastle could launch a move for West Ham star Paqueta in a bid to lift the mood around the club.
Howe has endured a torrid summer transfer window, being snubbed by a series of transfer targets, the latest being Benjamin Sesko.
Desperate Howe to launch Paqueta move in bid to lift mood
The Magpies could also be set to lose striker Aleksander Isak to Liverpool.
Given their lack of new arrivals, there is money to spend at St James’ Park. That kitty will clearly be boosted – and then some – if Isak is sold.
Some of it could be heading to east London by way of an offer for Paqueta according to The i News’ northern football correspondent Mark Douglas.
The journalist has revealed that Paqueta is one of the names mentioned to him recently.
Douglas says Paqueta is still well-liked by some at Newcastle.
The report states Newcastle are currently unsure whether the 27-year-old could be extricated easily from West Ham.
“But it is that sort of arrival that would change the mood music immediately at St James’ Park,” Douglas states.
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta shares a laugh with best friend, Newcastle midfield Bruno Bruno Guimarães, while in Brazil training
Photo by NELSON ALMEIDA/AFP via Getty Images
It should be noted that When West Ham signed Paqueta back in 2022, Howe’s Newcastle were also being heavily linked.
Howe admitted he wanted Newcastle to sign Paqueta before West Ham but conceded the deal proved beyond them as they needed their funds to sign striker Isak at the time.
Chronicle Live also revealed Paqueta and his agent were open to a move to Newcastle when it became obvious his time at Lyon – where he played alongside best friend and Magpies hero Bruno Guimaraes – was coming to an end.
Back in June 2023, before Man City’s bid and the emergence of the spot-fixing allegations in the August, shock rumours of a £70m Newcastle bid for Hammers ace Paqueta emerged.
Now it could be one of the headline moves of the final three weeks of the summer window.
While many Hammers fans want to keep Paqueta now he has been cleared, if Newcastle offered close to West Ham’s asking price, the club would find it difficult – if not impossible – to turn down given Graham Potter’s desire to overhaul his side.
Besides the fact they may be able to pay what West Ham want, Newcastle could have two trump cards to lure Paqueta to St James’.
Magpies could have two trump cards for Paqueta
Guimaraes truly is Paqueta’s best friend in football and their families are extremely close.
The Brazilian’s best friend at West Ham is Emerson Palmieri. The pair are inseparable and Emerson has effectively acted as Paqueta’s translator too while he has learned English.
The Hammers are actively looking to sell Emerson and he has barely been involved in pre-season, being given time to find a new club with interest from Turkey, Italy and Santos in Brazil.
Seeing Emerson leave would hit Paqueta hard and a reunion with Guimaraes would then become even more appealing.
In addition to that, Newcastle can offer Paqueta the chance to play Champions League football once again.
That in itself is a huge carrot.
Given Newcastle’s desperation to make a marquee signing and West Ham’s need for funds, this – unfortunately for Hammers fans – could well be one to watch.