Lucas Paqueta, a midfielder for West Ham United, is apparently back on Newcastle United’s radar.
Last summer, the Magpies were rumored to be interested in signing the Brazil midfielder, and manager Eddie Howe openly expressed his adoration for Paqueta before his team’s decisive victory over the Hammers in February.
It was never in doubt, but we certainly have a lot of respect for the player, he remarked. There are other factors, including transfer fees and the fact that it didn’t happen. He plays multiple positions and has exceptional talent. He offers West Ham a completely unique offering in the middle of the field.
Fichajes, a Spanish news agency, is now reporting that United will make another effort to sign Paqueta by beating off treble winners Manchester City and clinching a £52 million deal for the Hammers player. Pep Guardiola reportedly tried twice in the summer transfer window to get Paqueta to the Etihad Stadium but was unsuccessful, so he turned his attention to Matheus Nunes, a midfielder for Wolves.
Last year, Newcastle’s great player Bruno Guimaraes also said that Paqueta was his ideal signing.
“It would be my dream (to sign Paqueta),” Guimaraes said to ESPN in April. “Paqueta is my closest pal.
“We developed a bond that extended beyond the playing field; we always resided outside. Alongside us were our wives. It was a brotherly bond, and we still communicate daily.
I can’t do this job, but it would be incredibly wonderful if he could come here.
Champions of La Liga tied to a Magpies player
Alexander Isak, a standout for Newcastle United, is apparently being “tracked” by Barcelona as they search for a long-term replacement for Robert Lewandowski.
The Swedish international joined the Magpies in a £63 million transfer in August after leaving Real Sociedad of La Liga. In 31 games across all competitions for Eddie Howe’s team, he has scored 12 goals and provided three assists.
Isak is reportedly seen as a ‘effective alternative’ to Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, according to Fichajes, but the La Liga champions will find it ‘difficult’ to sign him because of his contract that runs until 2027 and his asking price of more than £63 million.
Isak missed Saturday’s 1-0 home victory over Brentford but will look to get back into Howe’s starting lineup when United travel to Serie A powerhouses AC Milan on Tuesday night to begin their first Champions League campaign in 20 years.
