West Ham dealt fatal blow as Arsenal agree 'unbelievable' £17m transfer exit
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The Hammers had been credited with interest in the Arsenal midfielder over the weekend but are set to miss out.
West Ham are set to miss out on the signing of Arsenal midfielder Fabio Vieira on Deadline Day as the Gunners agree a loan-to-buy deal with German side Hamburg.
The 25-year-old has become a fringe part of Mikel Arteta’s project at the Emirates Stadium and spent last season on loan with boyhood club Porto. He made 42 appearances for the Portuguese side, including outings in the Europa League and the Club World Cup.
Vieira has two years left on his contract with Arsenal but is set to spend the 2025/26 season on loan at Hamburg with the Bundesliga side given the chance to make the switch permanent. The Athletic report that Vieira’s loan switch is still to be finalised but that he has been given permission to travel to Germany, effectively ruling West Ham out of the transfer race.
Arsenal set to seal loan-to-buy deal with Hamburg
Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg has labelled that an ‘unbelievable deal’ for the German side and reports that the option to buy next year will be €20 million, approximately £17 million.
The midfield has been a key area for improvement for West Ham ever since Declan Rice left the club to join the Gunners in 2023. Edson Alvarez has been sent on loan to Fenerbahçe with Tomas Soucek linked with a late move to Everton. Sky Sports had carried reports of West Ham interest in Vieira over the weekend.
Lucas Paqueta to stay at West Ham
Lucas Paqueta had also been tipped to leave the London Stadium but now looks set to stay and work with Potter. The Brazilian appeared to show his commitment to the club in his celebration having scored against Nottingham Forest.
Asked if the player would be staying at West Ham following that match, Potter said: "Yes. The noise has been around Lucas for a long time and the way he conducts himself is incredible. He gave everything for the team again today and contributed with a goal and the win."
In other news, 'Closing In': West Ham and Crystal Palace to lose £35m transfer race in David Ornstein update.