West Ham could finally be about to add another midfielder to their squad this summer, having tabled a 40m offer for Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
The Irons have been looking to bolster the centre of their side all summer, and have seen significant bids turned down for Amadou Onana (who later joined Everton), Piotr Zielinski and Matheus Nunes (who has joined Wolves).
The club have yet to register a point yet this season, the only side in the Premier League to fail to do so, and Moyes is in desperate need of reinforcements, despite having already added seven players to his squad this summer.
Nayef Aguerd, Flynn Downes, Gianluca Scamacca, Thilo Kehrer, Maxwel Cornet, Emerson Palmeiri and Alphonse Areola have all joined the club on permanent deals.
“I’ve lost count of how many players we’ve bid for”, David Moyes admitted. “We’ve bid for a lot. If I told you who, you would burst out laughing. Maybe I’ve tried and gone above our station”, he added.
Now, however, two more could be on their way to east London.
Lucas Paqueta bid tabled
The latter have agreed a deal for Alexandre Isak, meaning that they are unlikely to have the funds to secure Paqueta too despite being the richest club in the world, with financial fair play hamstringing their summer business.
This, along with Arsenal’s lack of concrete interest, has paved the way for the Hammers, The Athletic report that “the Premier League side are believed to have submitted an offer to Lyon worth €40million and talks are advancing over the fee and personal terms.”
Paqueta, who is under contract in France until 2025, enjoyed a strong 2021-22 campaign, netting nine goals and six assists despite a poor season for his club, finishing outside the European places.
David Moyes also confirmed that a new bid for Hans Vanaken has been tabled, with the midfielder himself keen on a move to London.
