Manchester City reportedly plan to reignite their interest in West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta now that the Brazilian has been cleared of alleged betting offences.
The FA confirmed on Thursday that an independent regulatory commission had found Paqueta not guilty of spot-fixing, which could have carried a lifetime ban if the charges were proven.
The Brazil international was accused of deliberately picking up yellow cards in order to influence the betting market for the gain of one or more persons, but he vehemently denied the allegations from the off.
Paqueta has now been cleared of the most serious offences, although he will still face punishment for breaches of FA Rule F3, having been found guilty of refusing to comply with his obligations to answer questions or assist with the governing body’s investigation.
Nevertheless, the 27-year-old can now continue his professional career without the looming threat of a possible lifetime ban, and his future is thought to lie away from West Ham, who are expected to sell him for the right price this summer.
Paqueta ‘back on Man City’s radar’ amid West Ham ‘rebuild’
Man City were previously linked with an £80m move for Paqueta before the charges, and according to Football Insider, the Sky Blues are now preparing to go back in for the former Flamengo starlet.
West Ham have already sold Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur in a £55m deal this summer, but as head coach Graham Potter is seeking an extensive rebuild, he is apparently willing to cash in on Paqueta too.
A fee of £30m may be enough to prise the South American away from the London Stadium, where he has registered 18 goals and 14 assists in 120 matches for West Ham since his £37.5m move from Lyon in 2022.
Paqueta was influential in West Ham’s 2-1 win over Everton in the Premier League Summer Series on July 30, scoring the Irons’ equaliser before setting up Niclas Fullkrug’s winner, and Potter was quizzed on his future after the game.
The Irons boss refused to rule out the possibility of the midfielder leaving the London Stadium, but he did not close the door on Paqueta staying either, saying: “You never know for sure because anything can happen in the window with anybody.”
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