Struggling West Ham United do not want to lose Lucas Paquetá in this transfer window amid growing uncertainty over the Brazilian’s future.
Paquetá has interest from Brazil, with former club Flamengo thought to be keen to sign him, but Telegraph Sport understands West Ham are yet to receive any offers for the playmaker.
The London club are not encouraging offers for the 28-year-old, who is regarded as a fundamental part of Nuno Espírito Santo’s attack. Nuno’s side are currently 18th in the Premier League table, seven points from safety.
Paquetá has been dealing with a back injury in recent weeks and is understood to have been at West Ham’s training ground on Monday for further treatment. He did not feature in Sunday’s FA Cup victory over Queens Park Rangers.
Paquetá’s future has been a constant source of speculation and uncertainty in recent years, not least when Aston Villa showed interest in signing him during the summer transfer window.
The Brazilian memorably responded to Villa’s interest by celebrating a goal for West Ham by pretending to answer a phone, then throwing it away and kissing the badge on his shirt.
Paquetá was previously close to a big-money move to Manchester City in the summer of 2023, but the deal collapsed because of the Football Association’s investigation into spot-fixing allegations.
There has been an expectation within the industry that Paquetá will likely leave West Ham at the end of this season, when he will have one year remaining on his contract.
However, a significant offer in this transfer window could accelerate his departure if West Ham decide to cash in now. Paquetá has scored four goals and registered one assist in 18 league appearances this season.
The Brazilian has had psychological support to help him cope with the FA investigation – he was cleared by an independent regulatory commission in July last year – and the subsequent collapse of his transfer to City.
Last month, Nuno said Paquetá is still affected by the investigation after he was sent off for dissent in West Ham’s defeat by Liverpool. After that red card, Paquetá suggested on social media that his actions were a “reflection of everything I have had to endure”.
Paquetá said earlier this season that he has previously turned down multiple offers to return to Flamengo because of his gratitude to West Ham. He has made no attempt, however, to hide his “desire” to one day go back to the club where he started his career.
“They [West Ham] supported me a lot at all times, helped me in various situations, so I couldn’t force an exit from a place where I was being welcomed and respected,” he told Globo.
He added: “I know the doors [at Flamengo] will always be open for me. I know that at some point this return will happen.”
West Ham have three more Premier League matches this month before the transfer window closes on February 2. Two of those games are against London rivals, starting with Saturday’s trip to Tottenham Hotspur before a meeting with Chelsea on January 31. They face Sunderland at home on January 24.