West Ham cut £65m off 2023 asking price for 'exceptional' first team star loved by Pep Guardiola

West Ham could accept a transfer fee as low as £20 million to sell playmaker Lucas Paqueta this summer with the 27-year-old's former side keen on a reunion with the player.

Paqueta began his career at Flamengo in Brazil and Portal do Palmeirense claims that the club is determined to offer the player a chance to return home with the outcome of an investigation into betting charges still pending. The outlet has carried reports of a £20 million asking price at West Ham, with the London outfit having forked out a club record £50 million to recruit the player from Lyon in 2022.

It is added that Flamengo had made a £15 million bid for Paqueta last summer but that the offer was rejected by West Ham. The Brazil international has made 26 appearances across all competitions this season and has been heavily relied upon by Graham Potter since his arrival at the London Stadium.

Paqueta loving life under Graham Potter at West Ham

Speaking earlier this month about his relationship with Potter, Paqueta told the club media channel: "I think that was the start of me getting back to my old self on the pitch. So, I think that confidence, between him making things very clear to me, what I can do, what I should do, has given me a lot of confidence to do my best.

"We've really enjoyed working under the new coaching staff. All the ideas he's put forward are very clear, very organised, I think it's simple for us to understand. Of course, we have a lot of work to do, it's only been a few weeks of training. We've had a very good response and I hope that we understand each other more and more and can put into practice what he's been asking of us."

The reports of transfer interest from Flamengo are not the only signs of transfer talk surrounding Paqueta during his time at West Ham. The player was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City before the betting charges put a dampener on those rumours.

City boss Pep Guardiola is known to be a big fan of the player. Before a match against the Champions in 2023, Paqueta was spotted sharing a fond hello with Guardiola before kick-off.

West Ham reduce £85m asking price

When asked about the player last summer, Guardiola said: "I never said that [Paqueta was a target]. He's an exceptional player, he can play in different roles. Hopefully he gets out of his situation."

Paqueta signed a five-year contract with West Ham when arriving in 2022 and still has another two years on his current deal in London. That puts the Hammers in a strong negotiating place, but that supposed £20 million asking price is significantly lower than what had been quoted when City were still interested.

The Telegraph claimed that West Ham wanted £85 million for Paqueta in September 2023, when the player was seen sharing that fond moment with Guardiola on the touchline. That fee was linked with a supposed release clause in Paqueta's contract.

In other news, West Ham have had to recall a promising young star due to a devastating injury blow.