West Ham manager Nuno Espírito Santo has confirmed that Lucas Paquetá will not be involved in Saturday’s clash against Sunderland, as the Brazilian midfielder edges closer to a high-profile return to Flamengo.
The ongoing saga regarding Paquetá’s future has reached a turning point. After a lengthy period away due to back injuries, the 28-year-old returned to first-team training at Rush Green this Thursday. However, despite his physical recovery, his manager has made it clear that the player’s focus is no longer in London.
Nuno Demands Clarity
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Nuno Espírito Santo was blunt about the situation. While he has previously praised Paquetá’s undeniable talent, the Portuguese manager is eager to move forward with a squad fully committed to the club’s Premier League survival.
“Everyone knows my opinion about Lucas, but he won’t be included in the squad for this game,” Nuno stated. “We have to deal with the situation day by day. I hope that Lucas and the club can find a solution so that we can all move forward.”
Flamengo’s €40m Opening Bid
The “solution” appears to be a return to Rio de Janeiro. According to reports from GE, Flamengo have officially submitted a €40 million (£33.6m) offer to repatriate their former academy graduate. Paquetá has reportedly expressed a strong desire to rejoin the Brazilian giants in this window, and West Ham are now weighing up the financial logic of the deal.
While the fee is significantly lower than the figures discussed during Manchester City’s previous interest, the Hammers board understands that offloading a distracted player while recouping a substantial sum—may be the best path forward for the locker room harmony.
What’s Next for West Ham?
With Paquetá sidelined for the Sunderland match, West Ham will look to their recent signing Mateus Fernandes and other midfield options to provide the creative spark. As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on the London Stadium to see if the board accepts Flamengo’s multi-million euro proposal or holds out for a higher fee.
Ronald Mike is a football writer covering the English Premier League, providing match analysis, tactical insight, and coverage of key rivalries and title races across the season.
