adminBAD NEWS “- West Ham star wants to leave club in January window amid transfer interest
The Brazilian midfielder was notably absent from the squad for West Ham’s FA Cup third-round victory over QPR at the London Stadium on Sunday, fuelling fresh speculation about his future.
It is understood the former Lyon star is eager to return to Brazil after spending three-and-a-half years in east London.
While Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa have both previously registered interest in the 28-year-old — who remains under contract at West Ham until 2027 — Paquetá is said to favour a move back to his homeland, with Flamengo leading the chase.
West Ham currently find themselves in serious trouble near the foot of the Premier League table, sitting 18th after 21 matches. The Hammers are seven points adrift of safety and face a daunting run of fixtures against Tottenham, Sunderland and Chelsea, raising real fears of relegation for the first time since the 2010/11 season.
Now in his fourth campaign with the club, Paquetá has equalled his best Premier League goal return, scoring four times — the same number he managed in each of his previous three seasons in England.
Across all competitions, he has registered five goals and one assist from 19 appearances, with only captain Jarrod Bowen outperforming him in front of goal this term.
West Ham boss Nuno is aware that losing such a key figure could significantly damage the club’s survival hopes.
Paquetá has been persistently linked with an exit since last year after failing to secure a move away during the previous summer window.
Aston Villa reportedly tabled a £47 million bid, but it was Flamengo who came closest to landing his signature.
In November, the Europa Conference League winner publicly revealed his desire to return to Flamengo, though he ultimately remained at West Ham out of loyalty.
Paquetá explained that the club’s unwavering support during a Football Association investigation into alleged spot-fixing — accusations from which he was later cleared — played a major role in his decision.
Speaking to Brazilian outlet Globo, Paquetá admitted that discussions with Flamengo had taken place.
He revealed that former vice-president Marcelo Braz had personally approached him during a difficult period, making an offer and outlining the club’s interest.
Paquetá acknowledged his long-standing affection for Flamengo, describing his passion for the club and his strong desire to return. However, he said he felt unable to push for a move at the time due to the backing he received from West Ham, both professionally and personally.
He added that conversations also took place with former teammate Filipe Luís and his representatives, reiterating that the decision was not easy at 28, given his age and market value in Europe.
Ultimately, Paquetá chose to remain respectful of West Ham, a club he says he holds in high regard, believing the timing was not right.
Despite that, the midfielder remains confident a return to Flamengo will happen in the future, insisting the door is still open and that the move is only a matter of time.
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