Manchester City 'launch £70m bid for West Ham United's Lucas Paqueta'

Manchester City have reportedly made a £70m bid for West Ham United attacker Lucas Paqueta.

The 25-year-old made the move to the London Stadium from Lyon last August, and he represented the Hammers on 41 occasions during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring five goals and registering seven assists.

Paqueta contributed one goal and four assists in 11 Europa Conference League appearances, as the capital outfit won the trophy, while he managed four goals and three assists in 28 Premier League outings.

The Brazil international penned a five-year deal at the London Stadium upon his arrival, with his current terms running until June 2027, including the option of a further year.

According to Ge Globo, Man City have made a £70m bid for the attacker, with the treble winners identifying him as a leading target before the end of the window.

© Reuters

Paqueta started his professional career with Flamengo, representing their first team for three years before making the move to AC Milan, spending the 2019-20 campaign with the Italian giants.

The attacker then starred for Lyon between 2020 and 2022, representing the French side on 80 occasions, scoring 21 goals and registering 13 assists.

West Ham's move for Paqueta came as a surprise considering his standing in world football, with one of the major European teams widely expected to sign him from Lyon.

According to the Daily Mail, the Hammers are desperate to keep hold of the playmaker this summer and therefore £70m is unlikely to be enough to convince the club to sell.

© Reuters

The report claims that West Ham are reluctant to lose Paqueta following Declan Rice's move to Arsenal, although another sizeable offer from Man City would be difficult to ignore.

Pep Guardiola's side have made two signings during the summer window, bringing in Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea and Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig.

Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez have been their major departures, while Bernardo Silva is still being heavily linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium.

Man City, who lost on penalties to Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday, are also currently being heavily linked with a move for Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Kaoru Mitoma.

Guardiola's team will begin their Premier League title defence away to Burnley on Friday night.