Leeds watch as Paqueta ‘to push’ for £35m Flamengo move, West Ham weigh January call | OneFootball

Leeds United are watching closely as relegation rivals West Ham confront an immediate Lucas Paqueta decision. Fabrizio Romano reports that the midfielder has agreed terms with Flamengo and is pushing to complete a January return, with talks said to be under way.

West Ham sit 18th after a 10-game winless league run, having lost to Wolves and Nottingham Forest. Forest are seven points clear, with Leeds a further point ahead in 16th after a seven-match unbeaten streak ended in a 4-3 defeat at Newcastle last week.

London Stadium chiefs have already spent £45m on forwards Pablo Felipe and Taty Castellanos, but focus has shifted to Paqueta. He is believed to have been deeply affected by an FA betting investigation and was eventually cleared after two years.

Sky Sports claim West Ham are reluctant to sell their standout player during a survival fight. They add he missed Sunday’s FA Cup win over QPR through injury, despite suggestions elsewhere that he was fit.

The Guardian claim Paqueta asked to be left out amid uncertainty over his future, and that the club want to keep him. Flamengo are said to be ready to pay €40m, around £34.7m, with Brazil’s window open until March, and both outlets suggest he will not be a West Ham player next season. The uncertainty is unlikely to ease West Ham’s relegation concerns.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk