Newcastle United are reportedly set to rival Arsenal in the race to sign Lyon playmaker Lucas Paqueta, who is valued at €70 million.
According to Sportmediaset, Lyon are facing a fierce battle in keeping hold of Lucas Paqueta. The Brazilian playmaker has become one of the most in-demand players in the French market, with Premier League duo Arsenal and Newcastle United ready to rival each other in the race to sign him this summer.
Lyon are not averse to offloading Paqueta at the end of the season. But Les Dogues are holding out for a hefty fee of €70 million, knowing a portion of the recouping will go to AC Milan.
Paqueta had played for the Rossoneri for one and a half years, but his major breakthrough has come at Lyon. Since joining the French club in the summer of 2020, the Brazilian midfielder has been a revelation, becoming one of the best playmakers in Ligue 1.
An attacking midfielder by trade, the Brazilian international has impressed the onlookers with his creativity and dynamism in the final third. He is also quite a versatile playmaker and is able to operate out wide if necessary. The 24-year-old offers the productivity as well, having racked up 19 goals and 12 assists for Lyon, in a total of just 72 competitive appearances.
Paqueta’s rise to prominence has even made him a crucial part of the Brazilian national team. And it appears the Lyon playmaker could be on the verge of a move to the Premier League as well, with Arsenal and Newcastle United keen on securing his services.
The Magpies, in particular, are prepared to splash the cash in the summer as the owners aim to make NUFC one of the best teams in Europe. While Newcastle United might not be in a position to attract superstars such as Neymar or Marco Verratti just yet, someone like Paqueta could certainly prove to be an excellent investment.
The Lyon number ten could be an upgrade over Miguel Almiron, offering Newcastle United additional creativity in the final third, alongside Allan Saint-Maximin.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are in the market for a new playmaker who can complement Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe in the pecking order. Paqueta’s versatility, coupled with his productivity could prove to be useful for an Arsenal team that has lacked the end product far too often this season.
However, it remains to be seen whether any of Arsenal and Newcastle are willing to meet Lyon’s hefty €70 million price tag, especially in the midst of an uncertain financial window that has forced most European clubs to embrace a more calculated approach in the market.