West Ham United are prepared to sell Lucas Paquetá this month only if the deal includes a loan back from Flamengo until the end of the season. Flamengo have seen an opening €35m bid rejected and are expected to raise their offer to around €40m, but they are reluctant to agree to a loan, believing they can wait and secure Paquetá more cheaply in the summer.
West Ham are battling relegation and fear losing one of their key players could worsen their situation, with the club currently seven points below 17th-placed Nottingham Forest. Paquetá, who joined from Lyon for £51m in 2022, has struggled for form since facing spot-fixing allegations that derailed a proposed move to Manchester City. Although cleared last year, the episode is said to have affected him emotionally and contributed to his desire to return to Brazil.
Flamengo have until March, when the Brazilian transfer window closes, to decide their next move. Meanwhile, West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo has admitted the situation must be resolved quickly, stressing Paquetá remains one of the club’s best players. The uncertainty comes as West Ham seek defensive reinforcements, having failed to keep a clean sheet since August, while also managing doubts over Paquetá’s fitness ahead of the weekend match against Tottenham Hotspur.
