‘An agreement was very close’: David Ornstein says Man City were ‘excited’ to sign £80m star

Journalist David Ornstein has shared some details regarding Manchester City’s transfer pursuit of Lucas Paqueta.

Earlier in the summer transfer window, the Citizens were heavily linked with a move for the West Ham United midfielder.

After seeing a £70m bid for the Brazilian rejected by the east London club, City walked away from potentially signing the player in an £80m deal due to an FA investigation into possible betting breaches being opened on the midfielder.

With the summer window now set to close this evening, one journalist has shared some behind-the-scenes details on this particular transfer saga.

Speaking in a recent edition of The Athletic Football Podcast, Ornstein had this to say on the matter.

He said: “They went in for Lucas Paqueta at West Ham United, they were pretty excited about getting him in.

“I think the deal, which at one point seemed quite distant because he had an £85m release clause that would kick in in the summer of 2024 and West Ham saying ‘well, why would we sell for anything less than that now? We want something much higher.’

“And City, we know they stick to their valuations, they weren’t prepared to go that high but suddenly it gathered momentum to the point where, okay he wants to go, if West Ham get the fee they deem respectable, let’s have it.

“As it happened, I think an agreement was very close and then it was revealed he was facing an investigation into alleged betting breaches by the football association, let’s see what happens from here on in, but immediately that kiboshed his potential move to Manchester City.”