West Ham agree club record £53million deal for Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta
West Ham have agreed a club record deal in the region of £53million with Lyon for midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
A second bid of £42million was rejected by the French side on Thursday, but further talks were understood to be positive, and the two clubs have now come to an agreement for the transfer of the Brazil international.
Hammers chiefs made a breakthrough in negotiations with a new offer of £53million, leaving the 24-year-old free to sign a five-year deal with personal terms already agreed.
West Ham have reportedly agreed a deal to sign 24-year-old Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta
Paqueta is a 33-cap Brazil international who is set to feature at the World Cup in Qatar
David Moyes’ side have been chasing an attacking midfielder all summer, and have made Paqueta their main target as the end of the transfer window nears.
Lyon value the 24-year-old at £50million and refused to budge, rejecting two previous offers from the Londoners.
Several other Premier League clubs have also been monitoring his situation.
Paqueta will become West Ham’s eighth signing of the summer if they get a deal over the line, but only their second addition in midfield after Flynn Downes.
David Moyes has also bolstered his defence with goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, centre-back pair Nayef Aguerd and Thilo Kehrer, and full-back Emerson Palmieri, while Gianluca Scamacca and Maxwel Cornet have arrived in attack.
David Moyes is looking to add to his side after losing all three of their games so far this season
Moyes is looking to add more faces to his squad before the transfer window closes, with the Hammers losing all three of their Premier League games so far this season without scoring a goal.
Paqueta is a 33-cap Brazil international who is set to feature at the Qatar World Cup after winning the Copa America in 2019. He has spent the last two seasons in France after signing from AC Milan in 2020 and has three years left on his contract.
The 25-year-old is best suited to the number 10 role, but can also play wide right or as a centre-forward, and has registered 21 goals and 14 assists in 80 appearances for Lyon.
Paqueta is best suited to the number 10 role but can also play wide right or as a centre-forward
