Manchester City's plans to reignite their pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta this summer appear to have suffered a blow.
The 26-year-old joined the Hammers from Lyon for a then club-record £51m in the summer of 2022 and has since established himself as a first-team star at the London Stadium.
Paqueta helped West Ham win the Europa Conference League in his first season at the club and then contributed with eight goals and seven assists in 43 games across all competitions in 2023-24.
The Brazil international was strongly linked with a big-money move to Man City last summer at a time when the Citizens were allegedly prepared to pay around £80m to sign the playmaker.
However, Paqueta's proposed switch to the Etihad Stadium failed to materialise as he was the subject of a FIFA and Football Association investigation into suspicious betting activity.
Paqueta has since been charged by the FA with misconduct in relation to affecting the betting market in his native Brazil by intentionally receiving yellow cards by referees across four Premier League fixtures.
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Paqueta in talks over Flamengo return
The midfielder was "extremely surprised and upset" by the FA charge issued in May and "will fight with every breath" to clear his name.
Newly-appointed West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui revealed earlier this week that Paqueta is "suffering a lot" and the club "are going to take care of him" during this difficult period for him and his family.
Lopetegui has also stressed the importance of West Ham keeping hold of their key players, including Paqueta, if they are to build on last season's ninth-placed finish in the Premier League and compete for European football in 2024-25.
It is thought that Man City still hold an interest in Paqueta, but are unlikely to make a move for the midfielder until his issue with the FA is resolved, and they now appear to have fallen behind in the race for his signature.
According to Brazilian news outlet Globo Esporte, via Sports Witness, Flamengo have initiated contact with West Ham to 'facilitate the signing' of Paqueta this summer.
Negotiations, which are being led directly by Flamengo's vice-president of football Marcos Braz, began last month and are said to be in the early stages, but the parties involved are 'positive' that an agreement can be reached.
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Amid uncertainty over his future, West Ham understand that the departure of Paqueta could suit all parties, provided that they recoup as much of the £51m they spent to sign him two years ago.
In addition, Paqueta is said to believe that leaving England would benefit him and he would be 'in favour' of returning to Flamengo where he began his career, spending nine years in their academy and three more in their senior team before departing for AC Milan in 2019.
While Flamengo - who currently sit top of the Brasileiro table - are currently attempting to negotiate a loan move for Paqueta, West Ham would prefer to sell the midfielder this summer in order to generate funds for a suitable replacement.
What next for Man City? Who are their Paqueta alternatives?
Pep Guardiola is believed to be keen to recruit a new attack-minded midfielder this summer; Kevin De Bruyne has just a year left on his contract and has refused to rule out a move to Saudi Arabia, while Bernardo Silva is known to be open to seeking a fresh challenge elsewhere.
Man City have recently been credited with an interest in Paqueta's West Ham teammate Mohammed Kudus, who is understood to have a £85m release clause in his contract.
The Citizens have also been linked with the likes of RB Leipzig's Dani Olmo, Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala and Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze.
Oliver Thomas
