Manchester City are reportedly preparing a new bid in an attempt to complete the transfer of West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
The Premier League champions are keen to add further depth to an already star-studded squad, and following the injury sustained by Kevin De Bruyne on Friday night, club officials now have a greater incentive to get a deal for a new midfielder across the line.
Brazilian midfielder Paqueta has been highlighted as being Manchester City’s number one option for the position in the weeks that remain, but face a tough battle with West Ham in the next few days, with London Stadium bosses keen to retain the player.
The treble winners saw a £70million offer for the Brazil international turned down recently, but they’re now set to try again for him with a new bid to West Ham.
According to Fabrizio Romano via his official Twitter page, Paqueta has already reached an agreement on personal terms and wants the move to happen already to join Pep Guardiola at The Etihad Stadium.
He wrote: “Understand Man City are preparing new bid for Lucas Paquetá — negotiations will advance with West Ham.
“Paquetá has reached an agreement on personal terms with City and wants the move. Opening £70m bid rejected but City will submit new one.”
Understand Man City are preparing new bid for Lucas Paquetá — negotiations will advance with West Ham 🚨🔵🇧🇷 #MCFC
Paquetá has reached an agreement on personal terms with City and wants the move.
Opening £70m bid rejected but City will submit new one. pic.twitter.com/tDkMUxeQl4
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 14, 2023
Paqueta looks to have made it very clear that he wants out after only one year at the London Stadium.
Speaking with Pod Delas back in June of this year, as translated and relayed by The Athletic this week, the West Ham star admitted a “dream” of his while growing up was to one day join a club like Manchester City.
“I don’t intend to leave (West Ham United) but it’s clear that we dream of playing since we were little; Real Madrid, Manchester City, Barcelona, these bigger clubs we dream of playing (for),” Paqueta explained.
It is a feeling that is somewhat shared by his current manager at West Ham, David Moyes, who spoke last week about the difficulty in retaining a player who holds interest from some of Europe’s super club, including City.
“We wouldn’t want Lucas (Paqueta) to go, it’s as simple as that, but I also understand if you were in Lucas’s position,” Moyes admitted.
The former Manchester United manager continued, “Sometimes it is quite difficult to say to these boys, ‘Sorry, you can’t join Manchester City or Real Madrid,’ because they are two of the biggest clubs in the world.”
