West Ham United: Darren Bent makes Lucas Paqueta transfer claim live on talkSPORT
Darren Bent is adamant Lucas Paqueta will leave West Ham this summer if Manchester City reignite their interest.
Paqueta was linked with the European champions last summer, but an alleged betting breach put them off making an official approach.
The Brazil international has continued to impress for the Irons, but Bent does not believe he will be at London Stadium after the summer window.
“He won’t be there,” Bent said on talkSPORT [25 March, 6:07pm]. “They’d like to keep him, but he’ll be at a Champions League team next season.”
Asked if West Ham could keep him if they qualify for the Champions League, Bent added: “West Ham could be in the Champions League next season. But Man City will be in the Champions League and if they offer £80million, he’s off.”
Lucas Paqueta wanted by Manchester City
Had it not been for the betting charge, which many feared would – and still could – lead to a ban, Paqueta may well have already been a Man City player.
The talented playmaker deserves huge praise for getting his head down and continuing to impress for the Irons.
Paqueta has three goals and five assists in 22 Premier League games, while also impressing for Brazil in their somewhat surprising victory against England at the weekend.
West Ham United could yet qualify for the Champions League by winning the Europa League
The unfortunate truth is that with each impressive display, especially in high-profile games, Paqueta will be attracting admiring glances from elsewhere.
United showed last summer that there is life after losing a star player, but replacing Paqueta will be incredibly difficult – possibly even more so than replacing Rice.
Fingers crossed that will not be the case, though, and he will be here for another year or two yet.
In other West Ham news, one of David Moyes’ go-to men could be closer to the exit after a transfer development over the weekend.
