MANCHESTER CITY have launched a shock £70million bid for West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
City are in the market for a playmaker having lost Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan this summer.
Chelsea‘s Mateo Kovacic has already been drafted in but Pep Guardiola has now set his sights on Brazil star Paqueta.
However, West Ham insist he will NOT be sold this summer.
Paqueta became the London club’s record signing in 2022, joining from Lyon for £53m.
And the Hammers say City’s current £70m offer is “unacceptable”.
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Paqueta has £85m release clause, which City are unlikely to match despite reports the player is keen on a switch.
Paqueta scored five in 43 games last season, helping David Moyes’ side to the Europa Conference League trophy.
West Ham do not need the money from a potential deal as they already have £105m to play with after selling Declan Rice to Arsenal.
And as revealed by SunSport, they have agreed a £35m deal for Ajax midfielder Edson Alvarez.
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Mexican Alvarez, 25, is seen as a direct replacement for Rice – and is expected to fly to London in the to complete his medical.
While the Hammers finally agreed £30m deals for Manchester United defender Harry Maguire and Southampton playmaker James Ward-Prowse on Wednesday morning.
They have also been strongly linked with Maguire’s United team-mate Scott McTominay.
And City will hope the influx of midfielders may help the Hammers change their stance on Paqueta.
West Ham are confident Alvarez will be available to face Bournemouth in their Premier League opener on Saturday should there be no issues with his medical in East London.
But they may have to wait for Maguire and Ward-Prowse deals to be completed.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
