West Ham United have rejected a second offer for Lucas Paqueta, with the club determined not to sell the Brazil international for less than his original transfer fee.
Brazilian giants Flamengo have stepped up their efforts to re-sign Paqueta during the January transfer window, but their latest proposal has again fallen short of West Ham’s valuation.
The Hammers are currently battling to avoid relegation and are reluctant to weaken their squad midway through the season, particularly given Paqueta’s importance when fit.
£36m Lucas Paqueta bid rejected by West Ham
Flamengo’s second bid is understood to be worth around £36 million including add-ons, but West Ham are believed to be holding out for a significantly higher figure.
The Premier League club had already rejected an earlier approach this month, in the region of £30m, and are thought to value Paqueta closer to the £50m mark, especially given his status as a regular Brazil international.
Flamengo are keen to bring the midfielder back to Rio de Janeiro, where he began his professional career, but negotiations are proving difficult due to the gap in valuation.
West Ham’s stance is also influenced by their league position, with the club sitting in the relegation zone and prioritising survival over short-term transfer income.
How much did West Ham pay for Lucas Paqueta when they signed him?
West Ham broke their transfer record to sign Paqueta in August 2022 when he arrived from Lyon in a deal worth £51.3m.
That deal included a guaranteed transfer fee of £36.7m, plus up to £14.6m in add-ons.
He has since scored 16 goals and provided 10 assists in 110 Premier League games for the Hammers, while also moving onto 61 caps and 12 goals for Brazil at senior international level.
Although Paqueta, now 28, is three and a half years older than he was when he moved to the London Stadium, West Ham believe he is still worth at least what they paid for him and do not intend to sell him for a loss.
That is one of the main reasons why West Ham have so far rebuffed Flamengo’s advances.
Lucas Paqueta’s contractual situation
While West Ham’s stance over Paqueta is understandable, their bargaining position weakens with every passing month.
At present, Paqueta has just under a year and a half remaining on his contract, meaning he is on course to leave on a free transfer in the summer of 2027 if he is not sold or signs a new deal before then.
Right now, it feels highly unlikely that Paqueta will sign a new West Ham contract any time soon, particularly given his apparent desire to return to Brazil.
West Ham therefore face a difficult decision: cash in now for below their ideal price, or risk losing a valuable asset for nothing in the future.
If Paqueta remains at West Ham beyond the end of this season, his salary — and potentially his transfer value — could fall significantly. That is because West Ham players are contractually obliged to take a 50% pay cut if they are relegated.
The Hammers currently sit 18th in the Premier League table with 16 rounds of fixtures to go.
Lucas Paqueta will not play against Sunderland
West Ham’s next game is at home to Sunderland on Saturday, but manager Nuno Espirito Santo has confirmed that Paqueta will not play.
The midfielder missed recent matches after suffering a back problem and had also asked not to be involved in West Ham’s FA Cup tie earlier this month.
Nuno admitted the club are still assessing the injury on a daily basis and could not provide a firm timeline for Paqueta’s return to action.
With West Ham needing to make Premier League history to avoid relegation, his continued absence would be another blow for a side already struggling for consistency and creativity in midfield.
