West Ham will sell Lucas Paquetá … if Flamengo agree to loan him back | Transfer window

West Ham will sell Lucas Paquetá this month if the deal includes an agreement for Flamengo to loan the midfielder back for the rest of the season.

Flamengo had an opening bid of €35m rejected for the Brazilian and are prepared to raise their offer to about €40m. Paquetá has made clear to West Ham that he wants to return to Brazil and there are signs that the transfer will go ahead.

However, West Ham are locked in a fight to stay in the Premier League and fear that losing Paquetá would condemn them to relegation. A compromise would involve Flamengo signing the 28-year-old on a permanent basis and sending him back to help Nuno Espírito Santo’s side in their push for survival.

It remains to be seen whether that appeals to Paquetá and Flamengo. The Brazil international has grown disillusioned with life in England after facing allegations of spot-fixing. Paquetá was cleared of the charges last year but the episode cost him a move to Manchester City in 2023 and is said to have affected him emotionally.

The Brazilian transfer window shuts in March, giving Flamengo time to make a decision. The Brazilian champions could argue there is no point in Paquetá returning on loan if there is no improvement in West Ham’s results.

West Ham, who are seven points below 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, have not seen the best of Paquetá since the Football Association’s investigation came to light in August 2023. The former Lyon midfielder, who joined West Ham for £51m in 2022, has struggled to maintain focus and said after a red card against Liverpool this season that the FA had not provided him with psychological support.

The dilemma for West Ham is whether holding on to Paquetá makes sense. Sources say the Brazil international asked to be left out of last Sunday’s victory over Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup. Paquetá has been at the club’s training ground this week but has reported a minor knock and is a doubt to face Tottenham on Saturday.

Selling Paquetá would boost West Ham’s budget as they look for defensive reinforcements. They have not kept a clean sheet since August but have cooled their interest in the Toulouse centre-back Charlie Cresswell, who is wanted by Borussia Dortmund and Wolsfburg. West Ham have confirmed that Paco Jémez has joined Nuno’s backroom staff.

Leeds are close to signing Facundo Buonanotte after the Brighton forward’s season-long loan at Chelsea was cut short. The 21-year-old joined Chelsea last summer but has had little playing time and is set for a new challenge. An agreement has been reached for the Argentinian to return to his parent club and is expected to head to Leeds on loan for the rest of the campaign.

It is unclear if Chelsea intend to sign a replacement for Buonanotte. They are also expected to bring the Ecuadorean attacker Kendry Paez back from his loan at Strasbourg and find a new slot for him at a Championship club. Tyrique George, the 19-year-old winger, is likely to leave this month.

Chelsea have options in attack but have injury concerns over Cole Palmer, who missed the Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Arsenal on Wednesday with a thigh strain. Jamie Gittens and Liam Delap were unwell. The club are also considering ramping up efforts to sign a new centre-back this month. West Ham have registered an interest in Filip Jorgensen but Chelsea are unlikely to let their No2 goalkeeper leave.