'Impossible': Nuno makes new Lucas Paqueta claim after key West Ham blow

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Evening Standard

·20 novembre 2025

'Impossible': Nuno makes new Lucas Paqueta claim after key West Ham blow

‘Irreplaceable’ Brazilian will not be available to face high-flying Bournemouth as Hammers look to continue recent resurgence

Nuno Espirito Santo has admitted that Lucas Paqueta is “irreplaceable” after the West Ham midfielder rejected transfer interest from former club Flamengo over the summer.

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Paqueta, who is suspended for Saturday’s trip to Bournemouth, has looked back to his best in recent weeks, with the Hammers recording successive home wins in the Premier League for the first time since October 2024.

The Brazilian international acknowledged in an interview over the November international break that he had found it hard to turn down an approach from Flamengo during the summer window, but said he felt he owed a debt of loyalty to West Ham after they stood by him during a two-year investigation into spot-fixing charges brought by the Football Association (FA).

Paqueta was cleared of four spot-fixing charges by an independent regulatory commission in July, but was warned by the FA last month regarding his future conduct after “failing to answer questions and provide information” during their investigation.

Nuno knows how much of a miss Paqueta, who has scored more goals than any other West Ham player so far this season, will be against high-flying Bournemouth, but said his side would have to find solutions.

“Irreplaceable,” Nuno said. “We cannot (replace him), it's impossible to replace a player like Lucas. We have to be aware of what he means for us, what he gives us, his talent. Fantastic player, so irreplaceable.

“We have to find solutions, like I said to you before. It's still the session of tomorrow.

“Today we had Mateus (Fernandes) coming back, so tomorrow will be the moment that we'll look at the team, look at the boys and decide who's coming, who's travelling, who's playing.”