Aston Villa have reportedly ‘expressed an interest’ in securing a deal for West Ham’s star midfielder, Lucas Paqueta, with the aim of outmanoeuvring Manchester United in a dramatic last-minute transfer push.
A quiet summer for the Villans has seen them tread carefully, especially after narrowly missing out on Champions League qualification on the final day of last season, which further compressed an already limited transfer budget due to PSR regulations. So far, Villa’s signings have been modest, with only goalkeeper Marco Bizot and forward Evann Guessand brought in for just over £30 million, while 14 players have departed, either on loan or permanently.
Ahead of their clash with Crystal Palace on Sunday, Villa’s head coach Unai Emery confirmed the need for additional signings before the transfer window slams shut on Monday. “We are expecting to add a few players,” Emery mentioned at his press conference, citing the necessity to bolster the squad numbers for the upcoming campaign. “We now need two or three more players.”
The club remains in discussions with Paris Saint-Germain over re-signing Marco Asensio, who showcased his talents during a loan stint in the latter half of last season. While personal terms appear straightforward, the negotiation over a transfer fee for the Spanish international remains challenging.
This transfer impasse has led Villa to consider a swoop for Paqueta, who recently stunned audiences with a spectacular goal in West Ham’s 5-1 drubbing at Chelsea. The Brazilian, who has been a consistent presence in the Hammers’ early season fixtures, was cleared of spot-fixing allegations after a regulatory commission yielded a ‘not proven’ verdict back in July.
Originally linked with Manchester City during the 2023 summer period, Paqueta is now on Villa’s radar, with Emery and the hierarchy expressing significant admiration for the 28-year-old. The Athletic claims that Villa are weighing up their chances to lure him before Monday’s deadline.
Nonetheless, arranging the financials presents a daunting task. With Villa striving to adhere to UEFA’s financial constraints, and West Ham expected to demand a hefty fee, the deal’s feasibility hangs in the balance.
Additionally, Royal Antwerp’s goalkeeper Senne Lammens, tipped to join Manchester United, has also surfaced as a potential target for Villa, as per The Telegraph’s Mike McGrath. However, Galatasaray also remain in contention for the 23-year-old’s signature, leaving his future undecided as the transfer clock ticks down.
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