Lucas Paqueta’s future still remains shrouded in mystery ahead of the Tottenham Hotspur vs West Ham clash this weekend.
The Premier League game between West Ham and Tottenham is a vitally important one for both sides.
However, all the talk at the London Stadium right now is revolving around the future of Lucas Paqueta.
Over the past week or so, Paqueta has been linked with a move from West Ham to Flamengo.
How will you LOOK BACK on Lucas Paqueta’s West Ham career? 🇧🇷
Rate his Hammers career out of 10
Interestingly, Tottenham are said to be keen on signing Paqueta as well.
Nobody knows whether he will leave the club or stay beyond the end of the January transfer window.
In the here and now, though, the main question is: Will Paqueta play for West Ham against Tottenham?
MORE WEST HAM STORIES
Major Lucas Paqueta twist ahead of West Ham vs Tottenham clash
With such a huge game against Spurs on the horizon for the Hammers, Paqueta’s situation rumbling on in the background will surely be a really unwelcome distraction for everyone at the club.
Sky Sports reporter Kaveh Solhekol has been discussing Paqueta’s situation on The Transfer Show.
And Solhekol made a big claim about the Brazil international ahead of the Hammers’ clash with Spurs on Saturday.
“I can’t get inside his head this evening and tell you what he’s thinking,“ Solhekol said.
“But the information we’ve had today is that he is ready to play for West Ham in this crucial game against Spurs on Saturday.
“Now, that shouldn’t be breaking news that a West Ham player is willing to play for West Ham.
“But the background to this is, of course, that he missed the last game, the FA Cup game against QPR on Sunday. he wasn’t 100% fit for that game.
“We’re being told that he is 100% fit now, but the big picture is that he does want to return to Brazil for personal reasons.
“Now, I’m being told that West Ham are very reluctant to sell him. I’ve been told that it’s very unlikely that he will be allowed to move to Flamengo this window.
“And don’t forget the Brazilian window doesn’t actually close until March. I was told never say never, but it’s unlikely that he will leave this window, but he certainly wants to go to Brazil. So, if not this window, then almost certainly next summer.“
As Solhekol said, the fact that a West Ham player is ‘willing’ to play for the club should not be a big deal.
It should be a prerequisite.
However, when adding context into the mix, it could be a big boost for the Hammers.
Should Lucas Paqueta play for West Ham against Tottenham?
There were rumours that Paqueta refused to play for West Ham against Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Lucas Paqueta ‘wants to leave West Ham’ in the midst of a relegation battle – what’s your reaction?!
What was the point in this then? 🤔
There are two ways of looking at this.
Firstly, do West Ham really want someone who is so desperate to leave to play against Tottenham where only a win will do?
On the other hand, Paqueta can be a real game-changer and the fact of the matter is that the Hammers don’t have anyone else like him right now.
Nuno will have to weigh up the pros and cons of playing him on Saturday.
One thing’s for sure, and that is that West Ham have to beat Tottenham this weekend and it seems as though Paqueta could be given the chance to sign off in style.