Manchester City ‘remain keen’ to complete £70 million move for Brazil star this summer | OneFootball

Manchester City could revive a major move for West Ham and Brazil star Lucas Paqueta this summer amid a possible imminent conclusion to an FA investigation.

The 26-year-old was expected to move from the London Stadium to the Etihad Stadium in a £70 million deal last August, however a bombshell FA and FIFA investigation related to a number of bets scuppered any potential move to Manchester City from West Ham.

Paqueta, who has denied any wrongdoing, has been interviewed by the Football Association in relation to suspicious betting activity in his native Brazil by people close to the midfielder, with the investigation surrounding a series of yellow cards in 2023.

The Brazilian international has an £85 million release clause which becomes active this summer, and an exit from east London could have major implications on the transfer plans of both Manchester City and West Ham, with the summer transfer window opening next month.

Pep Guardiola’s side are set to make further midfield additions this summer, amid the potential for Bernardo Silva to leave the club ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, with the Portuguese midfielder having a £50 million release clause.

The Sky Blues are also expected to sell Kalvin Phillips, who spent the remainder of the current campaign at West Ham, after signing for the Hammers on loan in the January transfer window.

Gary Jacob reports that Paqueta’s representatives are ‘hoping’ for a decision on the FA investigation before the opening of the transfer window on Friday 14th June, with the midfield wanting to ‘revive’ a move to Manchester City this summer.

Furthermore, Etihad officials reportedly ‘remain keen’ on signing the player on similar terms to last season’s agreement, with personal terms having already been agreed between Manchester City and the midfielder’s agents.

Paqueta, who moved to the London Stadium for a club-record £51 million in 2022, was directly involved in 10 goals in 31 Premier League appearances this season.

The 26-year-old featured against Manchester City on Sunday, as the Sky Blues clinched a record-breaking fourth consecutive Premier League title with a 3-1 win over the Hammers at the Etihad Stadium.