Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham are unlikely to prevail in their pursuit of Lucas Paqueta this summer.
According to ESPN Brazil, Lucas Paqueta is set to remain at Lyon despite the interest from a host of top clubs across Europe. Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City were among the European giants keen on securing his services ahead of the new season and had made contact with the midfielder’s camp.
However, none of these three teams were able to further the talks with Paqueta’s agents over a potential move to England this summer. As a result, the player is set to return to France to begin his pre-season training with Lyon ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.
Paqueta has been one of the rising stars in Brazilian football for the past couple of years, enjoying a terrific spell at Lyon. In just 77 competitive matches for the club, the playmaker has racked up 21 goals and 13 assists, making a solid impression with his productivity and chance creation in the final third.
Paqueta’s attacking output had made him a top target for Arsenal, which has already become a hub for talented Brazilian players, especially following the recent capture of Gabriel Jesus. With Mikel Arteta wanting a new playmaker to complement the attackers such as Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah, someone like Paqueta could have been an ideal option, despite their recent addition of Fabio Vieira.
Tottenham, too, were interested in the Lyon starlet, as coach Antonio Conte is desperate for a new number ten amid the uncertainty over the future of Giovani Lo Celso. Spurs had targeted Christian Eriksen, but the Dane is reportedly on the verge of completing a shock move to Manchester United.
It would have made Paqueta an excellent option, even for a club like Manchester City. The English champions have recently bagged the services of Kalvin Phillips, but the further addition of Paqueta could have helped Pep Guardiola add some significant depth in the creative department.
The 24-year-old could have ideally served as a long-term replacement for Bernardo Silva, who has been flirting with a move to Barcelona for quite some time now. A move for Paqueta, though, will have to wait as the playmaker is reportedly keen on remaining at Lyon and continuing his development in Ligue 1.
The former AC Milan starlet has settled in quite well with his life in France and believes a prolonged stay in Lyon could help him improve his chances of becoming a crucial player for Brazil in the upcoming FIFA World Cup. So, despite all three Premier League clubs holding initial talks with Paqueta’s camp, nothing has come of it.