Report: West Ham Reject Second Bid For Want-away Star | OneFootball

Paqueta Stays as West Ham Dig In Over Flamengo Interest

West Ham’s January story continues to feel like a balancing act between survival and strategy. According to reporting by The Athletic, the club have rejected a second approach from Flamengo for Lucas Paqueta, turning down a package worth €38million plus €4m in add-ons. It follows an earlier offer of around €35m that was also dismissed earlier this month.

On paper, this looks like a club standing firm on valuation. In reality, it also feels like a reflection of circumstance. West Ham are in a relegation fight, short on margin for error, and reluctant to weaken a squad already stretched by injuries and form. Flamengo may want Paqueta back in Brazil, but West Ham want closer to €60m, a figure that signals both belief in his quality and a recognition of how difficult replacing him would be in January.

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Relegation Battle Shapes Transfer Stance

Context matters here. West Ham enter the weekend in the relegation zone, five points from safety, with Sunderland visiting in what already feels like a six-pointer in everything but name. That makes selling one of the squad’s most technically gifted players a risky gamble.

Paqueta’s recent absence complicates things. He asked not to play in the FA Cup tie against Queens Park Rangers on January 11 and then missed the 2-1 win over Tottenham with a back injury. Head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has since confirmed that he will also miss the Sunderland match. Even so, his broader contribution remains clear. He has made 19 appearances this season, scoring five goals and providing one assist.

The dilemma is obvious. Do you cash in now, potentially funding reinforcements, or do you hold your nerve and trust that Paqueta’s influence could help drag the team clear of danger?

Paqueta’s Complicated West Ham Chapter

This is not Paqueta’s first flirtation with a move away. Since joining in 2022, he has regularly been linked elsewhere. Aston Villa explored a deal last summer. Manchester City showed interest in 2023. That potential move collapsed amid a Football Association investigation into alleged betting breaches, a case Paqueta was eventually cleared of in 2025.

That history lingers. It adds a layer of narrative weight to every new bid. It also means Paqueta’s West Ham career has been shaped as much by speculation as by performances.

Now, with a contract running until June 2027, West Ham retain leverage. The question is whether that leverage is best used to protect their Premier League status or to extract maximum value while there is still strong overseas interest.

Holding Firm or Missing the Moment

Flamengo’s persistence suggests this is not going away quickly. For West Ham, rejecting two bids sends a message. They are not in a mood to be pressured. Yet it also raises a familiar fear for supporters, that January becomes about resisting offers rather than solving problems.

In a season defined by fine margins, this decision could end up feeling pivotal, either as a show of resolve that helped secure survival or as a missed chance to reshape a struggling squad.

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From a West Ham supporter’s perspective, this feels like one of those moments where emotion and logic collide. On one hand, keeping Paqueta makes sense. When you are staring at the bottom three, selling a player who can decide games feels reckless. Even if he has been injured and unavailable recently, his ceiling is higher than most of the squad. In a relegation scrap, moments of quality often matter more than systems or long-term planning.

There is also frustration, though. If Paqueta truly wants the move, and if Flamengo are likely to come back again, then this can become a distraction. Supporters have seen this story before. A player linked away, half fit, half focused, and suddenly every performance is viewed through the lens of a potential exit. That can be draining for a fanbase already dealing with pressure and anxiety.

Some fans will argue that €38m plus add-ons is not enough, especially in today’s market. Others will quietly wonder whether turning down that money in January, when survival is on the line, is a gamble too far. Could that fee fund two solid, hungry players who help grind out points? Possibly. But January recruitment is never guaranteed.

Ultimately, most West Ham fans want clarity. Either Paqueta is fully committed to the fight, or the club needs to be ruthless and reshape. Sitting in the middle, rejecting bids while the player remains sidelined, risks pleasing nobody. In a relegation battle, decisiveness often matters as much as talent.