West Ham unlikely to pursue legal battle after Manchester City transfer collapse | OneFootball

Manchester City’s collapsed transfer for West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta in 2023 is once again at the heart of football reporting following new developments.

What was once poised to be one of the most significant midfield moves of recent summer transfer windows unravelled dramatically when allegations of spot-fixing emerged surrounding the Brazilian international.

The story has since dragged into a lengthy investigation, with the English Football Association probing whether Lucas Paqueta deliberately received yellow cards in Premier League matches to manipulate betting outcomes.

The uncertainty derailed not only the player’s career trajectory but also West Ham’s wider plans, both financially and strategically for all involved. And while City have long since moved on from the saga – pivoting to other targets in subsequent windows – developments this week have brought the failed transfer back into focus.

According to MailSport’s James Sharpe, West Ham are unlikely to start a legal battle with the Football Association if Lucas Paqueta is cleared of spot-fixing after a two-year saga that had also led to the collapse of an £85 million move to Manchester City in August 2023.

Officials at the Etihad Stadium had pulled the plug on a move as soon as West Ham made them aware of the active investigation, not only costing Paqueta a dream move to the then-reigning Premier League champions, but also a huge payday for himself and the Hammers.

A move for the Brazilian midfielder is being targeted for this summer to fund transfer market activity under Graham Potter, with a return to Flamengo deemed as a possibility, though West Ham would want ‘way in excess of’ £25 million to consider a sale.

Should Lucas Paqueta be cleared by the FA, interest in the 27-year-old is likely to very quickly resurface, particularly from clubs on the continent – though a return to Manchester City remains highly unlikely at this stage.

City have reinforced their midfield over the last eight months in particular with the additions of players like Tijjani Reijnders, Nico González, and Rayan Cherki, while Claudio Echeverri has emerged as a clear future creative option.

For West Ham, a sale could open the door to a more aggressive transfer strategy under Graham Potter, as the club attempts to reshape its midfield core. With a valuation well above £25 million, only a handful of clubs are seen as realistic suitors.