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A turbulent start to the Premier League season has pushed Lucas Paquetá to the brink of a January exit from West Ham United.
The Brazilian playmaker, contracted until 2027, is understood to be eager for a mid-season move after the Hammers’ dismal opening nine fixtures left them 19th in the table, four points adrift of safety.
With the 2026 World Cup cycle sharpening competition for places in Brazil’s squad, Paquetá is said to believe that remaining in a relegation fight could jeopardise his international standing.
West Ham’s stance is not yet fixed, though a valuation of up to £60 million has been floated for any winter approach, according to The Sun.
The situation has deteriorated rapidly in East London. West Ham have mustered just one win in nine league games.
Paquetá, one of the league’s most technically gifted midfielders, has grown increasingly restless.
After being cleared of spot-fixing allegations in July, the 28-year-old was keen to reset his career path, but West Ham blocked a proposed move to Aston Villa.
The first half of this campaign has only intensified his desire for a fresh environment.
He remains a high-impact, technical creator whose press resistance, ball-carrying and final-third quality can transform a side’s attacking rhythm.
For the Hammers, selling a talisman mid-season could destabilize a squad already fighting form and confidence.
A £60m price tag for a peak-age, Premier League-proven playmaker is punchy in January, but not outlandish for clubs with European ambitions and cash on hand.
His desire to leave stems from both competitive ambition and international aspirations, while West Ham United must weigh the financial upside of a winter sale against the existential risk of weakening their survival fight.
Report: West Ham have “put forward a proposal” to sign “spectacular” talent from La Liga
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