Manchester City hoping to lower Lucas Paqueta fee

Manchester City hopes to persuade West Ham to lower their hefty demands for Lucas Paqueta as part of the Premier League winners’ bid to recruit him. The Hammers are insisting that any possible suitors for the Brazilian activate his £85 million ($105 million) release clause if they wish to sign him this summer.

City would only match that amount as a last resort, and they are in negotiations with West Ham’s management about lowering it. Pep Guardiola’s team attempted to buy Paqueta last summer, but the deal failed due to the risk that the 26-year-old would be sanctioned for breaking betting rules.

It is reported that City and Paqueta have already reached an agreement on personal terms. The player joined West Ham from Lyon in 2022, signing a contract that keeps him with the club until 2027. He has been a crucial member for David Moyes’ club this season, scoring eight goals and assisting seven more in 38 games.

The Brazil international will have to watch on from the stands as his West Ham co-stars take on Bayer Leverkusen in the quarter-finals of the Europa League on Thursday as he must serve a suspension for collecting to many yellow cards in the competition.