According to TEAMtalk, Lucas Paqueta, a star player for West Ham, has become a sought-after transfer target for many Saudi Pro League teams this month.
The Brazilian star, who has had a fantastic season with the Hammers, is reportedly being pursued by a number of elite Saudi Arabian clubs during the January transfer window, according to an online news source that published an article on January 2.
Money is reportedly not an issue. Manchester City was the most recent elite team to show interest in the West Ham star, planning a £95 million proposal last summer, but the process has since stalled [BBC Sport].
A deal too good to refuse?
West Ham may be in for a major profit on the Brazilian after signing for a club-record £36.5 million plus £14.4 million in add-ons last summer, according to BBC Sport. Saudi clubs are known for spending absurd sums of money for players all across Europe. The rest of West Ham’s season may suffer greatly as a result of the extreme doubt that they will be able to locate a successor as talented as Paqueta.
With the money earned from Declan Rice’s departure, David Moyes and the team made excellent signings with Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez, and James Ward-Prowse. There won’t be much hope that they can perform as well as Paqueta, even though the sale of their next big player will assist them attract future playmakers.
Since moving from Lyon to Moyes’ starting lineup in August 2022, the 26-year-old has been a constant. He has made 67 appearances, contributing a goal every 230 minutes from midfield, with 10 goals and 12 assists.
Even while those numbers might not seem like much, he has a lot greater impact on the field than merely goals. He plays a very strong defensive style, pressing the opposition whenever possible. He also leads the team like a genuine leader, doing everything in his power to advance the cause.
He is a tremendous loss for West Ham, who are currently missing him due to injury. He has been a major factor in both the team’s successes and disappointments. But it can be challenging.
