Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly joined Newcastle United in the hunt for Lucas Paqueta, with the Brazilian international set to leave Lyon in the summer.
According to football.london, Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to sign Lyon’s Brazilian playmaker Lucas Paqueta, who is also a target for Newcastle United.
Since joining Lyon in 2020, the 24-year-old has seen his reputation skyrocket in France. A relatively dull spell with AC Milan was swiftly eclipsed by his bright performance at the Groupama Stadium.
Paqueta made 44 appearances for Lyon last season in all competitions, directly contributing to 18 goals (11 goals, seven assists), averaging a goal or assist every 182.4 minutes. The 24-year-old was a bright spark for Les Gones in what was a mediocre campaign for a talented Lyon side as they finished 8th in Ligue 1 and were knocked out by West Ham United in the Europa League Round of 16.
Per French outlet L’Equipe, Paqueta is open to a move away this summer after Lyon failed to qualify for any European competition. His progress at Lyon has not gone unnoticed, and he would certainly not be short of prospective suitors, with Newcastle United holding a long-term interest in him after failing to land him in January. The Magpies will likely make a fresh bid to bring him to St. James’ Park this summer.
Paqueta is close friends with Newcastle’s January signing and compatriot Bruno Guimaraes, which might help the Magpies capture the Brazilian international. And his arrival at Newcastle United this summer would make their midfield a force to be reckoned with.
That said, Newcastle are not the only Premier League club vying for his signature. The Magpies will face stiff competition from Tottenham Hotspur, who are also keen on signing the Brazilian midfield maestro.
Antonio Conte splashed the cash in January to bolster the Tottenham squad and enjoyed great success in guiding the Lilywhites to a fourth-placed Premier League finish and secure UEFA Champions League football for next season. Now Tottenham are plotting more additions this summer in a bid to break into the top three in the English top-flight.
And a fresh report is claiming that Tottenham are considering a move for Lucas Paqueta and are tracking the Brazilian midfielder ahead of the summer transfer window as Conte looks to add even more creativity to the midfield department.
The 24-year-old is an attacking midfielder who can also operate in multiple positions across the frontline or in the second line of press. He would be a fantastic signing as he would add further depth to Tottenham’s attacking ranks and could end up being a replacement for Lucas Moura in the long run.
However, the asking price may deter teams from pursuing the former Milan man. Lyon are unlikely to let the highly regarded midfielder depart for a bargain price because he has three years left on his contract. Then there is also a hefty sell-on clause that was inserted in their deal to sign Paqueta from Milan, which may also have to be incorporated into the sum.
