Manchester City are reportedly in talks with West Ham over the fee required to sign Lucas Paqueta this summer, with the Brazilian ready to join the Premier League giants.
Pep Guardiola s side attempted to sign Paqueta last summer but the deal fell through amid the possibility of the 26-year-old being sanctioned for breaking betting rules.
Personal terms agreed
City landed Matheus Nunes from Wolves instead, but that move has reaped little reward, and their interest in Paqueta has remained.
It s been claimed that City and Paqueta have already come to an agreement on personal terms, and transfer expert Rudy Galetti has revealed City are now in talks with West Ham over the fee required to land the playmaker.
He wrote on X: Talks ongoing between #ManCity and #WestHam for Lucas #Paqueta: the clubs are discussing the amount of the possible move in the summer. The player is keen to join #MCFC: no issue on personal terms.
A last resort for City
It s thought the Hammers are demanding City activate Paqueta s £85m release claused if they want to land him this summer, though Foot Mercato claim City will only match that fee as a last resort .
City hoped Kalvin Phillips loan may have been made permanent to offset some of the cost for Paqueta, but West Ham are highly unlikely to offer the England international a contract given his displays for them since his January switch.
Paqueta may well be a replacement for Bernardo Silva, who s been heavily linked with an exit for the past two seasons.
