West Ham United are willing to sell Lucas Paquetá this month only if the deal includes a loan-back agreement keeping the midfielder until the end of the season, a condition currently resisted by Flamengo. The Brazilian club have seen an opening €35m bid rejected and are prepared to increase their offer to around €40m, but they are reluctant to loan Paquetá back, believing they could secure him more cheaply in the summer.
West Ham are locked in a relegation battle and fear losing Paquetá now could severely damage their survival hopes. The Brazil international has become disillusioned in England after allegations of spot-fixing, which he was cleared of last year, derailed a proposed move to Manchester City in 2023 and are understood to have taken an emotional toll. Flamengo have time on their side, with the Brazilian transfer window open until March.
Paquetá, signed from Lyon for £51m in 2022, has struggled for form since the investigation emerged and recently asked to be left out of an FA Cup tie. He is also a doubt for Saturday’s match against Tottenham Hotspur with a minor injury. West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo admitted the situation needs resolving quickly, stressing the club’s desire to keep its best players involved. Selling Paquetá would boost funds for defensive reinforcements, an area of concern after months without a clean sheet.
