In the upcoming January transfer window, Manchester City is reportedly set to revive their pursuit of West Ham’s highly-valued talent, Lucas Paqueta, with a staggering price tag of £85 million. Despite initially withdrawing from negotiations during the summer amid an ongoing investigation into alleged betting breaches, City is poised to re-engage with the Hammers for the Brazilian midfielder.
Pep Guardiola, City’s manager, maintains a keen interest in securing Paqueta for the squad, even after securing the services of Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes for £53 million earlier in the summer. The outcome of the investigation into the alleged betting breaches involving Paqueta is yet to be determined, and City is awaiting the results before progressing with their renewed pursuit.
Looking at the broader perspective, Guardiola envisions Paqueta as a strategic long-term successor to Kevin de Bruyne, who has seen limited action this season due to injury, clocking in only 23 minutes on the field. If De Bruyne’s injury concerns persist, there is speculation that the Belgian midfielder might be offloaded. Adding to the intrigue, Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr has expressed significant interest in acquiring Paqueta, possibly teaming him up with Cristiano Ronaldo, and is reportedly willing to pay £60 million for the midfielder, whose contract is set to expire in 2025.