Lucas Paqueta is not the only West Ham United player who could be swapping the Premier League for the Brazilian Serie A this month.
Whether an unnecessary distraction or a timely parting of the ways for two troubled partners, the future of Lucas Paqueta is destined to become the main topic of discussion at the London Stadium during the remainder of the January transfer window.
The good news is that Paqueta won’t be joining Mohammed Kudus at Tottenham. Or, at least, that is the view from his Brazilian homeland.
How will you LOOK BACK on Lucas Paqueta’s West Ham career? 🇧🇷
Rate his Hammers career out of 10
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
The Rio-born ace has his heart set on a return to Flamengo, where he started his career. Out of sight and out of mind is infinitely better than seeing Paqueta and Kudus link up a few miles to the north, right West Ham United fans?
Of all the ways his Hammers career could come to an end, leaving English football behind while boosting Nuno Espirito Santo’s coffers to the tune of around £35 million is as preferable as it gets.
According to The Guardian, Flamengo have seen a £30 million bid rejected. The Copa Libertadores champions are prepared to go up to £35 million, though; a fee that would see the prodigal playmaker become their record signing by some distance.
Palmeiras, in contrast, would not have to dip quite so deep into their financial reserves to bring Igor Julio back home.
Igor Julio could join West Ham United teammate Lucas Paqueta in Brazil
Of all the potential and confirmed departures from the London Stadium this month – from Niclas Fullkrug to Luis Guilherme, Lucas Paqueta to Callum Wilson – that of Igor Julio has understandably attracted the least attention.
The centre-back has started only one Premier League match since joining on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Igor has been left out by Nuno for four of the last five matches too. He was nowhere to be seen during the 2-1 FA Cup third round victory over QPR.
Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images
For all the criticism and the confusion surrounding Nuno’s team selections of late, his sidelining of Igor is one of the more reasonable. After all, with Ezra Mayers waiting in the wings, why give minutes to a loanee when you have a future first-team regular ready to make his breakthrough?
Mayers made his full West Ham debut on Sunday. The 18-year-old’s emergence as a first-team option at both centre-half and left-back appears to have been the final nail in Igor’s coffin as far as his hopes of a permanent move to the London Stadium are concerned.
He appears to have no place in Brighton’s long-term plans either. The 2022 and 2023 Brazilian league champions have made contact with Igor’s representatives, according to Palestra. Brighton are allegedly willing to consider offers in the region of £6 million.
Palmeiras open Igor talks as Ezra Mayers impresses Nuno Espirito Santo
While relatively small change compared to some of the other potential centre-half signings at West Ham – Toulouse’s ex-Leeds starlet is valued at £20 million-plus, for instance – that £6 million fee is one Nuno will not be rushing to pay. Especially now that Igor finds himself stuck behind a teenager who has looked the part in his brief senior career thus far.
Mayers hopes to keep his place against Tottenham in Saturday’s local derby.
“Walking out of the tunnel for the first time, through all the bubbles and the fans singing, it’s something very special,” said Mayers, whose adaptability makes him an option at left-back, at centre-half, in a back four and a back three.
“You don’t get that coming on as a sub. But yeah, happy with my performance in my first game.”
“Of course [I want to play vs Tottenham]! It’s always a tasty one against Spurs. You always want to win that one, so yeah, if I’m involved, I’ll be excited and ready to give my all.”
How much confidence does the win over QPR give you heading into Spurs? 👀
Oh, how sweet it would be to start to turn things around against them 😍
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Lucas Paqueta prefers Flamengo to Tottenham Hotspur
As for Lucas Paqueta, Brazilian reporter Rodrigo Mattos tells UOL Esporte that the 27-year-old is opting against a move to Saturday’s opponents. Tottenham looked into another West Ham swoop, but Paqueta will not be following in Kudus’ footsteps.
“I think his desire is clear. He wants to join Flamengo,” Mattos says. “Not just because he doesn’t want to go to Tottenham, which is a big English club, but also because he sees the atmosphere surrounding him in England, ever since the betting investigations began.
“He suffered a lot of reputational damage within England specifically. So I think that factor also plays into his desire to leave.
“Paqueta doesn’t need to come to Flamengo to make the World Cup. He’s coming to Flamengo – if he comes – because he wants to play for Flamengo.”
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox