West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paquetá has expressed a strong desire to leave the London Stadium and return to his native Brazil, with Flamengo reportedly leading the charge to sign him.
Hammers Hold Firm Amid January Interest
The Premier League club is understood to be strongly reluctant to sanction a sale during the January transfer window, even in the face of significant interest from the Brazilian giants. Rumours suggest Flamengo could be prepared to offer around £35 million for the 26-year-old playmaker.
Paquetá’s wish to depart was highlighted when he did not feature in West Ham's FA Cup clash against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. It is believed the player himself requested to be left out of the squad. He has been managing a back issue, which caused him to miss the 3-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers and led to him being substituted in the second half of the recent 2-1 home loss to Nottingham Forest.
Summer Exit Likely as Contract Winds Down
The Brazilian international, who joined West Ham from Lyon in 2022 for a club-record fee, still has 18 months remaining on his current contract. While a move this month appears unlikely, an exit in the summer is widely anticipated. Flamengo is one of two Brazilian clubs to have registered concrete interest in the midfielder.
West Ham consider Paquetá a key member of their squad, especially in their battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League, and are disappointed by his decision to seek a move. The club stood by the player during a near two-year Football Association investigation into alleged betting rule breaches, from which he was cleared of all charges last summer.
Previous Premier League Suitors
Interest in Paquetá has not been limited to Brazil. Last summer, both Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa explored the possibility of signing him, but his heart is now set on a return to his homeland. As of now, no formal offer has been submitted to West Ham for the player, leaving his immediate future uncertain as the January window enters its final stages.
