Premier League strugglers Newcastle United have been knocked back in their efforts to sign Lucas Paqueta.
According to Foot Mercato, struggling Premier League side, Newcastle United have faced a setback in their efforts to sign Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
The 24-year-old has seen his reputation soar since moving to Olympique Lyon in 2020. A largely forgettable spell at AC Milan was quickly shelved as he showed his quality at the Groupama Stadium. Paqueta has made 55 appearances, scoring 17 goals and assisting ten more. An attacking midfielder, he is versatile enough to fulfil several other roles. An excellent dribbler who can also make eye-catching passes, the Brazilian is capable of making a difference in the final third.
Newcastle are currently among the favourites to get relegated and are three points off of Watford in the 17th spot. However, the Hornets have two games in hand and could pull clear should they get favourable results in both matches.
With just one win all season, the Magpies will need to step up and put up a good run of results soon. Eddie Howe’s side have the worst defence in the league and will need their attack to step up and cover for it in the upcoming games. Newcastle will have a chance of turning their fortunes around if they can bring in the right players during the January transfer window.
But, one player who will not be arriving on Tyneside is Paqueta. Newcastle were keen on landing the Selecao ace and were willing to offer him over €10 million in wages to make it happen. The player, however, was having none of it and has chosen to stay put at Lyon.
Paqueta is happy at the French outfit and will only consider leaving the club if he receives an offer from a bigger club. Newcastle, for all their riches, are not in that category and have some ways to go before they are counted amongst the elite.
As things stand, Allan Saint-Maximin is Newcastle’s lynchpin in the attack. Any good move the Magpies appear to make passes through the Frenchman, and more often than not, it comes off as a one-person battle. Adding more creative players around him could pave the way for the attack to score more goals.
The Magpies currently have the sixth-worst attack in the league and only average one goal per game. It is said that goals win you matches, and defences lead you to championships. Newcastle, at this point, are in desperate need to achieve the former, and they must give Howe the tools he needs to achieve just that.
With Pasqueta out of the equation, it remains to be seen who the Magpies will aim to bring in next. Given their current predicament, it remains to be seen who will be willing to make a move to Newcastle United.
