Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paquetá is reportedly eager to depart West Ham United during the upcoming January 2026 transfer window, amid the Hammers’ struggles in the Premier League and their need to address significant financial losses from the previous season.
West Ham are demanding around £60 million for the versatile attacking midfielder, who has two goals in nine appearances this season but has been hampered by past betting allegations (cleared in July 2025).
Flamengo hold a long-standing interest but are unlikely to match the valuation, while Aston Villa allegedly had a summer bid rejected.
Obstacles for a Tottenham move
For one, Lucas is 28, and Tottenham may feel that at his age, this is too great an investment to make at this stage.
That said, such a significant fee would be softened with a player plus cash type deal. Yves Bissouma might appeal to West Ham, and it would certainly come as a relief to Spurs, who have found the player wanting, despite significant fan support.
This is Spurs going back in
The Boy Hotspur’s Substack understands that Spurs have an intention to return to the negotiating table, amid the Lewis family’s intention to make a cash injection this winter.
Tottenham Hotspur showed strong pursuit of Paquetá during the summer 2025 window, viewing him as a creative No. 10 alternative after missing out on Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze.
Spurs explored various structures, including a straight cash bid (£40-55m), add-ons, or even a swap involving Yves Bissouma, despite an informal “non-transfer pact” between the London rivals, but that’s been breached earlier by our signing of Mohammed Kudus. No deal materialised before the August 31 deadline.
Our view
Thomas Frank has to be seeking midfield reinforcements, as Tottenham simply cannot get away with winging it, waiting for injuries to subside. Whatever players are due back, there are no guarantees that they will be as good as they once were.
Moreover, fans need to break the rather simplistic view that we only need one player per position. As Kevin Danso’s recent performances show, it pays to have players competing for positions.
Tonight, Spurs travel to Newcastle United without Archie Gray, whose absence we broke this morning and the suggestion our midfield is ‘full’ is less than ambitious.