Manchester City are ready to step up the Lucas Paqueta pursuit and are already formulating a new offer for the Brazilian midfielder.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Manchester City are formulating a fresh bid for Lucas Paqueta. West Ham have already rejected an earlier offer, with the London side set to demand significantly for the 25-year-old Brazilian international.
West Ham United could yet see another key star leave the club before the window shuts, having already lost skipper Declan Rice to Arsenal. Fellow midfielder Lucas Paqueta has heavy interest from Manchester City. A move could conclude before the transfer deadline.
West Ham have kept the door open on a potential transfer. Recent reports insisted David Moyes had identified Scott McTominay as Paqueta’s possible replacement. Stylistically, the two players are poles apart. But the Hammers manager might have a plan for his future midfield shape.
Paqueta drew the interest of Manchester City, resulting in West Ham rejecting a £70 million bid from the ‘treble winners’. They are ready to step up their chase of the 25-year-old Brazilian international. Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Pep Guardiola’s side are already formulating a new offer.
Understand Man City are preparing new bid for Lucas Paquetá — negotiations will advance with West Ham 🚨🔵🇧🇷 #MCFC
Paquetá has reached an agreement on personal terms with City and wants the move.
Opening £70m bid rejected but City will submit new one. pic.twitter.com/tDkMUxeQl4
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2023
As per Romano, personal terms were already agreed earlier, which leaves the small matter of deciding on a fee with West Ham. Since he moved from Lyon last summer, West Ham could demand a high price for the player who has played only a single season at the club.
Manchester City were in the market for a new midfielder since the departure of Ilkay Gundogan. They managed to sign Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea, but Pep Guardiola might need another in the position to add more quality. In addition, Kevin De Bruyne’s fitness woes are forcing City’s hands.
Rice was also a target before Arsenal outbid them with a £105 million offer. There were rumblings about involving Cole Palmer in a part-exchange deal, but that no longer seems possible. As things stand, Manchester City intends to sign Paqueta at all costs and will likely offer a reasonable fee to tempt West Ham.
The Hammers have shown they were tough negotiators during the Rice deal with Arsenal. It should alert Manchester City to the possibility of this deal being far from easy to conclude. Yet, their camp has growing confidence to get it over the line in the coming days, which will depend on their new offer.
