West Ham United have signalled their readiness to accept offers of approximately £30 million for midfielder Lucas Paqueta during the current transfer window.
The Brazilian playmaker is anticipated to be cleared of spot-fixing allegations that have overshadowed his career over the past couple of years.
This represents a dramatic reduction from the £80m fee that Manchester City were prepared to pay before the Football Association's investigation halted the transfer.
Their probe into allegations that Paqueta deliberately received yellow cards to manipulate betting markets effectively blocked his move to the former Premier League champions.
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|West Ham United have signalled their readiness to accept offers of approximately £30 million for midfielder Lucas Paqueta during the current transfer window
The Hammers' stance has shifted significantly, with the club now prepared to accept less than half the previous valuation for the 27-year-old, according to the Daily Mail.
The FA's investigation into allegations of spot-fixing effectively rendered Paqueta untradeable whilst the charges remained unresolved but, now he's set to be cleared, his future at the London Stadium is shrouded in uncertainty.
These serious allegations made him an untouchable asset for potential buyers, who were unwilling to risk acquiring a player facing such grave charges.
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Paqueta's former employers Flamengo have emerged as potential buyers for the attacking midfielder.
The Brazilian club's sporting director Jose Boto revealed during their Club World Cup campaign last month that they were seeking players with European experience.
"They are targeting European experience," Boto said, noting that the club had already secured Jorginho from Arsenal in the summer transfer window.
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The Rio de Janeiro outfit have been monitoring the outcome of Paqueta's FA hearing, though they face competition from other interested parties.
Multiple clubs are expected to pursue the Brazilian international following reports of his impending exoneration.
Paqueta arrived at the London Stadium from Lyon in 2022 for a fee of £51m.
His existing deal runs until 2027, with West Ham holding an option to extend his stay by an additional twelve months.
The Brazilian's finest moment in claret and blue came when he provided the assist for Jarrod Bowen's winning goal in the 2023 Conference League final in Prague.
That performance attracted City's attention when he was performing at his highest level.
Whilst reports suggest Paqueta will be cleared of wrongdoing, the FA has yet to issue formal confirmation of the independent panel's verdict. The official announcement remains pending.
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West Ham boss Graham Potter, meanwhile, said in May that Paqueta had suffered amid the case - but also insisted he was proud of the player's attitude.
"It has taken its toll on him," he said.
"Sometimes stress, pressure, can manifest itself in a different way.
"Generally he's come in and conducted himself in a really good way. He's handled it really well."