West Ham United managed to bank just shy of £40 million from the sale of Lucas Paqueta to Brazilian giants Flamengo.
Paqueta may have left under a cloud, in the eyes of the supporters who will struggle to forgive the way he forced through a move in the middle of a relegation battle. But a transfer fee which makes him the third-biggest sale in West Ham United’s history means any tears can be wiped away with a fistful of dollars.
According to reports out of Brazil, the relationship they struck up with Brazilian and Copa Libertadores champions Flamengo could bring further rewards later down the line.
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West Ham were linked with defender Leo Pereira last month, although that trial would go cold as the pursuit of Chelsea misfit Axel Disasi heated up.
But, per Coluna do Fla reporter Leo Jose, Pereira is not the only Flamengo player with admirers at the London Stadium.
Young midfielder Evertton Araujo is not only a target, Jose writes on his X page, but one West Ham seemingly hope to bring on board for £10.5 million later this year.
West Ham United reportedly want Lucas Paquera’s Flamengo teammate Evertton Araujo
With so many areas in need of improvement – specifically centre-half and centre-forward – the signing of a young, up and coming midfielder appears to have been placed on the backburner until the summer.
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Jose, a reporter well connected at the Maracana, expects 22-year-old Evertton Araujo to feature near the top of West Ham’s midfield shortlist come the off-season.
“West Ham [are] eyeing Everton Araujo. The English club got wind of the player through their scout,” Jose says, albeit without revealing the identity of the scout in question.
Evertton Araujo celebrates after Palmeiras v Flamengo - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2025 Final
Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images
“The 22-year-old midfielder is now being closely watched by the London team.
“I’ve also heard that West Ham values the player at around 12 million euros. Flamengo are holding out for a much higher price, given he’s a young talent with European market potential.”
West Ham may hope that, following weeks of discussions with Flamengo’s top brass, the lines of communication will remain open to them should they ask the Rio-based outfit to return the favour in a few months’ time.
Araujo has been praised for his ‘extremely disciplined’ nature
Araujo played the final 15 minutes or so of Flamengo’s 1-1 draw with Internacional on Tuesday, entering the fray shortly after the most expensive-ever signing in Brazil’s top flight exited proceedings.
The youngster is a far more defensively-minded midfield player than Paqueta. And while he ended the 2025 campaign with both domestic and continental titles, Araujo is yet to really establish himself as a starter in the team recently crowned South America’s greatest side.
Head coach Filipe Luis is a big fan, though. Not only of Araujo’s ball-winning talents and his reliable-if-safe use of the ball, but also the personality and maturity which sets him apart from many players his age.
“Evertton is a player who has the greatest talent a human being can have, in my opinion, which is the ability to learn,” the former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid left-back told Globo Esporte towards the end of 2024.
“He’s an extremely disciplined, focused guy. You give him an instruction, his eyes widen. He wants to learn, to absorb [information] at all times. He keeps doing extra work after training, he has a tendency to evolve a lot.
“The greatest gift a human being can have is this desire to learn.”
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Similarities have been drawn between Araujo and Joao Gomes; the former Flamengo enforcer who has spent the last three years in England with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite Wolves’ miserable campaign,
Gomes continues to be linked with the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham. During the Gary O’Neil days, he appeared to be emerging pretty rapidly as one of the most complete young midfielders in the Premier League.
West Ham would be looking for a similar impact from Araujo, though what this means for the likes of Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa remains to be seen. Potts has lost his place to Tomas Soucek of late. For the first time in his young career, doubts have been expressed about the academy graduate’s ability to provide the control or discipline West Ham need in the centre of the park.
West Ham sources ruled out selling Magassa last month when links emerged with Galatasaray and Fiorentina, per Hammers News. But, like Potts, Magassa has not been trusted to start a league match since the 3-0 drubbing by Gomes’ Wolves a month ago.
With Soucek and Mateus Fernandes performing impressively in their absence, it seems likely that both will be on the bench again away to Burnley on Saturday.
Nuno likes the freedom Soucek’s addition has bestowed upon the rampaging Fernandes. The Czech giant’s presence in both penalty areas, meanwhile, makes him a major asset at set-pieces.
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