Aston Villa ask about loan with obligation for West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta | OneFootball

Aston Villa have asked about a loan with an obligation to buy for West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta, according to the Daily Mail.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery wants the 28-year-old West Ham star to swap the London Stadium club for the Villa Park club.

Villa are offering the Hammers an initial £5 million loan fee, with £45m to follow next summer, but West Ham want a permanent deal.

It remains to be seen if either club will change their stance, but there is little time left in the summer transfer window ahead of the deadline on Monday.

The Villans are unable to spend right now until further sales as they need to stay compliant with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

UEFA fined the Midlands club earlier this summer for breaching their Financial Fair Play rules, which is why they are proposing a loan deal for Paqueta.

West Ham are open to the departure of the Brazilian but would love a permanent deal as they want to recruit players too in the closing days of the window.

Villa are not the only ones keen on the Hammers attacker, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Everton credited with interest.

Spurs have signed the Netherlands international attacker Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig, and a move for Paqueta could be off the cards for them.

It could give Villa an opportunity in the race, but whether West Ham are open to accepting a loan offer for one of their most-prized possessions remains to be seen.

Getting Paqueta will be huge for Emery as he needs quality squad depth in attack to boost his chances of competing strongly in the Europa League and Premier League.

It is believed that the Brazilian wants to leave West Ham, and while the chance to play in the Champions League would be more appealing, he could be open to a Villa switch if suitors playing in the elite European competition do not come forward.