A busy summer for West Ham is about to get even busier with them looking at bringing in another two midfielders before the window closes.
An appalling start to the Premier League campaign has the Hammer dissatisfied with the work they have done so far in the market. They have added five new players to the roster but it hasn’t worked out to date. Arriving already are Emerson, Gianluca Scamacca, Maxwel Cornet, Nayef Aguerd, and Thilo Kehrer.
Despite the summer spending, they sit at the very bottom of the EPL standings and are the only club yet to collect a point or a win. They have conceded the joint third-most goals in the league and are yet to score a goal. Their opening three defeats came against Manchester City, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton.
The only positive to come from the start of the 22/23 term was the first-leg victory over Viborg in the Europa Conference League playoff game. Newcomer Gianluca Scamacca scored his first as a Hammer, while the always dependable Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio were on target for the second and third of the game.
The Hammers did concede in the 69th minute but do have their one foot through the door in the playoff. They square off later this evening for the second leg at Energi Viborg Arena.
While the manager David Moyes and the squad prep for the second leg of the Europa Conference League playoff, the transfer committee have made an offer to Lyon for their primary target: Lucas Paqueta.
West Ham have made an offer worth £33.8 million for Lucas Paqueta 🇧🇷 pic.twitter.com/iryou3JHor
— GOAL News (@GoalNews) August 24, 2022
Talks Ongoing Between West Ham and Lyon
The discussions are in the early stages and the Hammers have just made their first approach for the Brazillian with his agents in England to finalise a deal before the window shuts.
"West Ham have made a bid worth €40m (£33.75m) for Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta.The player’s agents are in London and want to conclude a deal with a Premier League club before the end of the window. Talks are continuing between the clubs.(via: Sky Sports)"
Paqueta, who can play in a variety of positions, has spent time in the Serie A and Ligue after his move from Flamengo back in 2018 and is just 24 years of age. He made 44 appearances (29 starts) in his three seasons at AC Milan, scored once and picked up three assists.
He then moved to France and has enjoyed an outstanding spell with Lyon. He has featured 80 times for them (69 starts), scoring 21 goals and assisting a further 14. A midfielder who can score and create is exactly what the club has been crying out for.
Other targets have been named and with the reports of their Paqueta approach, they are keeping close tabs on Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher, who will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge for around £35m. However, West Ham wants a loan move this summer.
Even though Moyes is a big admirer of the Chelsea player, the East Londoners’ hierarchy would probably only sanction a move if the deal for Club Brugge midfielder, Hans Vanaken, falls through.
They do not want to lower the asking price for the 30-year-old and if they stand firm, the Hammers are willing to walk away and invest in other targets.