Lucas Paqueta
Lucas Paqueta
Aston Villa have been linked with a move for West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta before the closure of the transfer window next Monday evening. Brazil international Paqueta, who has 55 caps for his country, is also wanted by London rivals Tottenham Hotspur before the deadline passes.
Paqueta scored a superb opening goal for the Irons in their 5-1 defeat to Chelsea at the London Stadium on Friday night and, after seeing former teammate Mohammed Kudus leave for Spurs earlier this window, he is reportedly open to departing East London if he can secure European football elsewhere.
The midfielder, who has made 33 goal contributions in 122 appearances for West Ham since joining from French side Lyon for around £37m in 2022, has been linked with a move away from the club before now but has remained and been a regular for the last three years since his arrival.
Earlier this summer, Paqueta was cleared of spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission after the FA had charged him for allegedly getting booked "for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market". He had been set for an £85m move to Manchester City prior to the FA's investigation coming to light.
Villa and Spurs with moves for Paqueta, who has two years left on his existing deal with the option of a further year, over the weekend.
have shifted plenty of players off their books this summer, including Jacob Ramsey, Leander Dendoncker and Alex Moreno in the last week or so alone, . Enzo Barrenechea has also headed back out on loan but Villa are keen to add to their squad before the opportunity to do so passes.
What is Villa's transfer priority before the deadline?
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