Newcastle United have been connected with a bid for West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta, and a credible journalist has now provided an update on his potential move to St. James’ Park.
Lucas Paqueta, how old is he, and how long has he been at West Ham?
Paqueta, 26, has been at the London Stadium since last summer after joining from Lyon, and he’s made a total of 46 appearances for David Moyes’ team.
The Irons’ attacking midfielder has four years left on his contract, but he’s attracted the notice of PIF and Eddie Howe after establishing himself as his manager’s overall second best-performing player this season with a WhoScored match rating of 7.48.
According to Spanish reports (via The Daily Mail), the Magpies have identified the Brazil international as a possible January transfer target, but as we all know, he was previously linked with a move to Premier League rivals Manchester City.
The E20 talisman had accepted personal terms to join Pep Guardiola’s team for £80 million over the summer, but due to the FA probing him for possible betting violations, as reported by Sky Sports, he ended up staying at the club.
“Manchester City always appreciated Paqueta but they invested money on Matheus Nunes, big money; so at the moment they’re not planning for that move in January.”
How much money does Lucas Paqueta make per week?
Paqueta presently earns £150,000 per week at West Ham, which he has more than earned since his arrival, so it’s no surprise that the northeast club is interested in obtaining his services.
The TFM Agency client, who is sponsored by Nike, ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles and the 97th percentile for clearances against players in his position, indicating that he enjoys getting involved and clearing the danger for his team, while also being capable of making a positive impact at the other end of the pitch.
Moyes’ left-footed ace has made 14 contributions (eight assists and six goals) in 46 club appearances, so he would be a great acquisition if Newcastle could persuade him to sign a new contract.
Finally, Paqueta is a versatile player who has played in seven different positions on the field since the start of his career, including everywhere across the midfield, out wide on the left wing, and even at center-forward, so this is a no-brainer of a deal to pursue if the opportunity arises.
