West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta looks set to fulfill his wish to return to Brazil after verbally agreeing to join Flamengo in a £35.8m deal.
The £35.8m (€41.25m) deal is expected to be formalized in writing within the next 24 hours.
Lucas Paqueta’s performance at West Ham
Two Premier League clubs also want to sign Paqueta this month, but the player’s heart is set on a return to Brazil, and he made his wishes known to the Hammers earlier this month.
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Lucas Paqueta was sent off in West Ham’s home defeat to Liverpool in November.
Brazil’s transfer window is open until March. Paqueta’s contract with West Ham runs until the summer of 2027, with West Ham having the option to extend his contract for a further 12 months.
He was cleared of spot match-fixing charges in July after a two-year investigation, which threatened to end his career.
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These are the four yellow cards that led to the West Ham midfielder being charged by the FA – Paqueta was cleared of spot match-fixing charges in July after a two-year investigation
Elsewhere, Guido Rodriguez will join Valencia for an undisclosed fee, and talks are progressing for Adama Traore to join from Fulham.
Rodriguez was not in the squad for Saturday’s 3-1 win over Sunderland, with James Ward-Prowse on the bench, making his first appearance for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
Burnley are no longer pursuing a move for Ward-Prowse, Sky Sports News understands.
The Clarets were in talks to sign the midfielder early in the transfer window.
