Sky journalist suggests Arsenal could now sign big name for just £30m

Arsenal could potentially bring in a big name this summer for the meagre price of £30 million, as a Sky Sports journalist suggests this week.

Edu plotting new attacking signing for Arsenal

As widely reported, sporting director Edu is planning to bring in new attackers when the transfer window reopens.

£69m player now excited by chance of joining Arsenal this summer

He prefers a move to Hale End.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 10, 2024

Members of Arsenal's current squad will feel very hard done by, especially given their fine goalscoring form since the turn of 2024. Indeed, Mikel Arteta's side have scored a quite fantastic 38 goals over their last 11 top flight games, as they seriously contend for a first Premier League title in 20 years.

These brilliant numbers haven't deterred Arsenal from bringing in a new number nine, though, as backed by Fabrizio Romano, who says that the Gunners will be signing an "important" striker this summer.

"The plans that we have for the summer are very clear," said Arteta when asked about signing a new forward this summer, remaining coy.

Arsenal's best-performing players per 90 in the league this season

Average match rating per 90 (via WhoScored)

Bukayo Saka

7.64

Declan Rice

7.35

Martin Odegaard

7.31

Gabriel Magalhaes

7.05

Gabriel Martinelli

7.00

"They were done almost at the start of the season understanding what we can have, the contract situations with some players, and how we can improve certain areas of the team. This situation doesn't change that."

It looks set to be an exciting window where supporters are concerned, given the plethora of reports linking them with a star new front man. Arsenal are believed to be admirers of Sporting Lisbon star Viktor Gyokeres, with Edu also eyeing Napoli star Victor Osimhen.

Another name who refuses to go away is Brentford star Ivan Toney, and it is widely expected he'll depart west London this summer, with his contract set to expire next year.

Brentford striker Ivan Toney

Arsenal have been regularly linked with a move for the England international for quite some time, and Sky journalist Florian Plettenberg has backed this while sharing a really intriguing update.

Arsenal could sign Ivan Toney for as little as £30 million

Indeed, the reporter took to X this week and suggested that Arsenal could strike a deal for Toney for as little as £30 million.

Toney has bagged four goals in 13 league appearances since returning from his on-field ban, but he did score a brilliant 20 league goals last season.

"Ivan is amazing in many, many aspects,” said Thomas Frank to Brentford's official website.

"The way he copes with pressure and distractions is amazing. He’s been scoring goals, performing for the team and driving the team. He’s remarkable. I can only talk about the Ivan that I see every day around the place and he’s a fantastic person around the group. He’s got that unique emotional intelligence to be aware of all the players, and every staff member."

أحمد العش: مهاجمو المصري أقوياء جدًا.. ولا أستحق رجل المباراة وحدي

أعرب أحمد العش، لاعب فريق الجونة، عن سعادته بأدائه، في مواجهة فريقه أمام المصري البورسعيدي، التي أقيمت اليوم السبت، في الدوري المصري الممتاز.

حسم التعادل السلبي نتيجة مباراة المصري والجونة، في اللقاء الذي أقيم بينهما اليوم السبت، ضمن منافسات الجولة الثانية من بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز موسم 2024 – 2025.

طالع..التعادل السلبي يحسم مباراة البنك الأهلي وفاركو في الدوري المصري

وحصل العش، على جائزة رجل المباراة لأفضل لاعب في لقاء الجونة والمصري.

وقال العش في تصريحات عبر قناة أون تايم سبورتس: “الشكر للفريق كله الذي بذل مجهودًا كبيرًا، ليس أنا فقط من يستحق هذه الجائزة، خط الدفاع كله وكل زملائي قدموا أداءً جيدًا ولعبنا مباراة دفاعية قوية”.

وأتم: “مهاجمو المصري كانوا أقوياء جدًا، ونحن كنا نركز في المباراة، والمدير الفني كان ينبهنا من العرضيات وربنا وفقنا”.

Análise: Crespo não teve medo de correr riscos necessários e conseguiu deixar o São Paulo mais ofensivo

MatériaMais Notícias

Nesta terça-feira (8), o São Paulo recebeu o 4 de Julho pela partida de volta da terceira fase da Copa do Brasil. Com a necessidade de reverter o placar de 3 a 2 no jogo da ida, o treinador Hernán Crespo mexeu na escalação para agregar ofensividade ao time. A mudança deu certo, e o Tricolor venceu o jogo por 9 a 1. Veja as alterações promovidas pelo técnico e o que mudou na equipe.

RelacionadasNúm3ros da bol4Com goleada histórica, São Paulo chega a 250 gols na Copa do BrasilNúm3ros da bol408/06/2021VídeoVÍDEO: Crespo vê São Paulo voltando com ‘carro na rua’ após goleadaVídeo08/06/2021São PauloPablo fala sobre classificação do São Paulo: ‘A gente sabe o que tem que fazer’São Paulo08/06/2021

CONFIRA A TABELA ATUALIZADA E SIMULE OS JOGOS DO BRASILEIRÃO DE 2021!

A primeira mudança que chamou bastante a atenção foi a entrada do argentino Emiliano Rigoni na equipe, jogando como ala direito. O camisa 77 já havia feito sua estreia no último sábado (5), pelo Brasileirão, na derrota por 2 a 0 para o Atlético Goianiense. Na partida em questão, porém, o argentino atuou por dentro, no meio de campo.

A ideia de jogar com Rigoni pela ala direita é ganhar ofensividade e habilidade ao explorar a profundidade no ataque. O argentino é um ponta direita de origem e substituiu Igor Vinícius, que é lateral. Pelo lado, a entrada de Rigoni deu muito certo e o jogador conseguiu, inclusive, dar uma bela assistência ao criar uma jogada usando o drible e a profundidade servindo o atacante Pablo.

No meio de campo, mudanças novamente muito ofensivas. Sem poder contar com Luan e Liziero, Crespo optou por não utilizar volantes de marcação, escalando um trio de meio-campistas com Rodrigo Nestor, Gabriel Sara e Luciano. O funcionamento do trio foi muito dinâmico e importante para o placar grandioso.

Embora seja atacante de origem, Luciano foi, durante o primeiro tempo inteiro, um dos principais criadores do São Paulo. Como de costume, o camisa 11 procurou bastante o jogo e, por sua nova função durante a partida, participou efetivamente desde a origem dos ataques, recebendo a bola próximo à intermediária de ataque. Gabriel Sara teve função semelhante, embora tenha ficado mais preso ao ataque em si, iniciando poucas vezes as jogadas.

Nestor, por sua vez, participou bastante da transição do ataque para a defesa. O camisa 25 frequentemente foi quem começou a criação, acompanhando o desenvolvimento da jogada até o campo de ataque, onde deu passes importantes, permitindo infiltrações da dupla de ataque e também dos meias.

Na frente, uma dupla de atacantes que funcionou muito bem por unir dois jogadores de características compatíveis. Pablo funcionou como um atacante de referência, com bom posicionamento tático, aparecendo para as finalizações que lhe renderam três gols na partida. Sua dupla, Eder, teve um papel mais livre, buscando jogadas e saindo da área em diversos momentos.

Com isso, o São Paulo jogou com um meio de campo muito dinâmico e muito ofensivo, que contou com as constantes infiltrações de Luciano e Gabriel Sara, que renderam gols a equipe, junto de um ataque forte com um atleta jogando como referência e ao lado de um jogador de posicionamento mais livre. Tudo isso com o apoio de alas ofensivos que constantemente buscavam o fundo, procurando oportunidades para cruzamentos na área.

Todas essas estruturas muito ofensivas permitiram ao Tricolor fazer aquilo que o time precisava desde o início: pressionar o 4 de Julho e tentar reverter o placar. Entretanto, é importante ressaltar que essa tática foi adotada em decorrência da ocasião. O jogo exigiu que o São Paulo se abrisse tanto assim, o que fez o time correr riscos. Assim, essa estratégia dificilmente deve ser repetida em outros contextos menos alarmantes.

A ausência de voltantes de marcação e ofensividade dos alas, principalmente Rigoni, fez com que o trio de zaga ficasse muito exposto, o que poderia ter sido um problema caso o 4 de Julho conseguisse manter o ritmo do começo do jogo e atuar em bloco alto, ou então encaixar bons contragolpes. Diante de equipes que ataquem com mais qualidade em velocidade, essa exposição pode custar muito caro.

O time do Piauí chegou a fazer um gol logo no primeiro minuto de jogo, onde, após um erro de passe do São Paulo, aproveitou a exposição do trio de zaga e seu posicionamento desorganizado para abrir o placar. Quanto o time Piripiri recuou suas linhas, porém, cedeu à pressão e não conseguiu aproveitar a exposição da defesa do Tricolor.

Ideias muito bem pensadas, um time bem adaptado para o contexto específico da partida. O treinador Hernán Crespo não apenas acrescentou atacantes, mas mexeu de maneira muitíssimo inteligente na estrutura, correndo um risco, mas sabendo que o risco era necessário para reverter o placar.

Nas palavras do técnico Vanderlei Luxemburgo, ‘o medo de perder tira a vontade de ganhar’. Crespo assumiu os riscos sem medo e foi muito feliz, montando uma verdadeira máquina de gols.

Man Utd could hijack summer move for "outstanding” international winner

Manchester United could hijack a European giant's summer move for an "outstanding" international champion, according to a fresh transfer update.

Man Utd transfer news

It has been a season to forget at Old Trafford, with performances and results nowhere near good enough, even though they are still in the FA Cup. Erik ten Hag finds himself under pressure to keep his job beyond this season, but it remains to be seen what decision Sir Jim Ratcliffe will make.

United's new part-owner has come in and made his presence felt, making key backroom additions and appearing on the verge of bringing in Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United as the club's new sporting director.

One player whom both the Red Devils and rivals Manchester City are believed to be targeting is Michael Olise, with the Frenchman thought to be pondering a Crystal Palace exit in the summer, as a new challenge may be needed at this stage in his career.

Michael Olise

Brentford striker Ivan Toney is another rumoured target for United, but the England international will reportedly demand more money per week than Bruno Fernandes, while young Barcelona defender Mikayil Faye is wanted by both them and Liverpool.

Attacking reinforcements could be needed moving forward, especially with Antony and Marcus Rashford struggling for form and Anthony Martial likely to move on, and it looks as though an exciting player could be on his way to Old Trafford.

Man Utd want "outstanding" ace

According to a new update from Mundo Deportivo (via Sport Witness), Manchester United have a "serious interest" in RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo this summer.

They are looking to potentially hijack Barcelona's move for him, with the La Liga giants eyeing him up as a primary target in the coming months, and United entering the race could make things awkward.

Dani Olmo for RB Leipzig

Olmo could be an excellent option for United if they do pip Barca to his signature, having been linked with a move for him in recent weeks. He is an international champion, having won the UEFA Nations League with Spain in 2023, and at 25, he is at a good age to come in.

The Spaniard has nine goal contributions (four and five assists) in 18 German Bundesliga appearances this season, outlining his end product in the final third, and Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has called him "outstanding" in the past, also adding: "He has exceptional abilities and is very safe with the ball. When he gets put under pressure, he knows how to provoke a foul."

While not necessarily a world-renowned star attacker, Olmo has proven himself at the top level, scoring eight goals in 33 caps for Spain, and he is a versatile attacking player who is capable of thriving centrally behind the striker or on either flank.

Man Utd could unleash the real Bruno by signing “unreal” ace for £0

The Man United target has been described as a “concrete option.”

ByTom Lever Apr 20, 2024

Barca clearly have a huge pull and appear to be leading the race, so it is easy to envisage Olmo choosing them over United, but a new era could be dawning under Ratcliffe, and the Leipzig man could see it as an ideal time to move to Old Trafford.

ترتيب مجموعة السعودية في تصفيات كأس العالم بعد التعادل مع أستراليا

خيم التعادل السلبي على نتيجة مباراة السعودية وأستراليا والتي جمعت بينهما اليوم ضمن منافسات تصفيات كأس العالم 2026.

وأقيمت مباراة السعودية وأستراليا على أرضية ملعب استاد ملبورن المستطيل، ضمن منافسات الجولة الخامسة من مرحلة المجموعات في تصفيات المونديال.

وواصل منتخب السعودية نتائجه الضعيفة بالتصفيات بعد التعادل اليوم مع أستراليا تحت قيادة فنية جديدة مع الفرنسي رينارد، عقب رحيل الإيطالي روبيرتو مانشيني.

ويتواجد منتخبا السعودية والبحرين في المجموعة الثالثة التي تضم إلى جوارهما منتخبات أستراليا واليابان وإندونيسيا والصين.

وتلعب منافسات الدور الثالث من تصفيات قارة آسيا بمشاركة 18 فريقًا، تم تقسيمها إلى ثلاث مجموعات، بواقع 6 فرق في كل مجموعة.

طالع | اختبار رينارد الأول.. السعودية تتعادل مع أستراليا في تصفيات كأس العالم

ويتأهل صاحبا الصدارة والوصافة من كل مجموعة إلى نهائيات كأس العالم مباشرة، فيما يصعد أصحاب المركزين الثالث والرابع للمرحلة الرابعة من المنافسات.

ويتم تقسيم الفرق المتأهلة للمرحلة الرابعة إلى مجموعتين، يصعد منهما المتصدر فقط إلى مونديال 2026، فيما تقام مباراة أخيرة بين وصيف مجموعتي الدور الرابع، يتأهل الفائز منها إلى الملحق العالمي، ليكتمل نصاب قارة آسيا في المونديال.

وعقب مباراة اليوم وصل منتخب السعودية إلى 6 نقاط في المركز الثالث بجدول ترتيب المجموعة، وكذلك حافظ أسترليا على احتلاله المركز الثاني في المجموعة بنفس الرصيد.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي منتخب البحرين مع الصين مساء اليوم في إطار لقاءات الجولة ذاتها عن المجموعة الثالثة، وكذلك يواجه اليابان منافسه إندونيسيا. ترتيب مجموعة السعودية في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

1- اليابان، برصيد 10 نقاط.

2- أستراليا، برصيد 6 نقاط.

3- السعودية، برصيد 6 نقاط.

4- البحرين، برصيد 5 نقاط.

5- إندونيسيا، برصيد 3 نقاط.

6- الصين، 3 نقاط.

Em vestiário, Sylvinho valoriza desempenho do Corinthians contra o Sport: 'Esse é o caminho'

MatériaMais Notícias

O técnico Sylvinho gostou do que viu na vitória do Corinthians por 2 a 1 sobre o Sport, na última quinta-feira (24), pela sexta rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro, na Neo Química Arena. Após a partida, o comandante corintiano exaltou a construção que levou a sua equipe conquistar os três pontos.

– Esse é o caminho, essa a nossa história, esse é o nosso cainho e hoje foi o nosso resultado. Nós construímos bem esse resultado, vocês sabem disso -registrou a Corinthians TV.

>> Confira a tabela do Brasileirão e simule os próximos jogos
>> Baixe o novo app de resultados do LANCE!

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasCorinthiansMosquito, do Corinthians, revela ‘cabeça a milhão’ para enfrentar o Sport e lamenta gol anuladoCorinthians25/06/2021CorinthiansJô marca gol 200 do Corinthians na Arena pelo Brasileiro e chega a artilharia do clube no Século XXICorinthians25/06/2021CorinthiansApós drama pessoal, Mosquito volta ao Corinthians, joga bem e é elogiado por Sylvinho: ‘Excepcional atleta’Corinthians25/06/2021

Ainda assim, o treinador admitiu que o time caiu de rendimento no fim da partia, quando cedeu o gol ao Sport, quando vencia por 2 a 0, mas relevou, exaltando principalmente o preparo corintiano no primeiro triunfo em casa pelo Brasileirão.

– Uma peninha no final, é futebol, é duro, é assim, é de responsabilidade, é de um preparo coletivo que tá sendo dado e de um preparo individual que vocês tão dando. É árduo, é longe, é longo. Vamos, satisfação em arrastar aqui, em jogar futebol satisfação em atacar, agredir, marcar pressão.

Após o primeiro triunfo em seus domínios, o Timão, neste fim de semana, buscará manter a invacibilidade como visitante, enfrentando o Fluminense, no domingo (27), às 16h, no estádio do Maracanã.

'Dirty,' says Priyam Garg; Akbar Ali 'sorry' for reaction of his boys

Ugly scenes at the close take the focus away from a hard-fought Under-19 World Cup final

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Feb-2020

The Bangladesh players can’t control their joy•ICC via Getty

The Under-19 World Cup final ended on a controversial note with players of the two teams seen engaging in an exchange of words and even some pushing and shoving on the field, leaving a Bangladeshi flag damaged in the process. This followed moments of tension between players at several points during the match.The finer details of the incident are yet to come out, but the ICC is understood to be taking the issue “seriously” ahead of a fuller update from the match referee, Graeme Labrooy, on Monday.”What happened, it should not [have] happened,” Akbar Ali, the Bangladesh captain who led his team to the win with an unbeaten 43 in a tense finish, said at the post-match press conference. “I don’t know what exactly happened. I didn’t ask what was going on. But, you know, in the final, emotion can come out, and sometimes the boys were getting pumped, and emotions were coming through. As a youngster, it shouldn’t happen. In any position, in any manner, we have to show the respect to the opponent, we should have respect for the game.”Cricket is known for being a gentleman’s game. So I’ll say, I’ll be sorry for my team.”Priyam Garg, the India captain, was clear that the Bangladeshi players were to blame, at least when it came to the sequence of events at the close.”We were easy. We think it’s part and parcel of the game – you win some and you lose some,” he said. “But their reaction was dirty. I think it shouldn’t have happened. But it’s okay.”There was needle between the two sides from the start. As early as in the second over of the match, in the Indian innings, Divyaansh Saxena tapped a ball back to the bowler, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, who picked it up and hurled it back, sending it flying not too far from the batsman’s head. Saxena was out of his crease, so the attempt to run the batsman out was legit, but it was followed by a bit of staring and mouthing-off, and needed an intervention on the part of umpire Adrian Holstock.ALSO READ: Reactions – Bangladesh’s strong message to the worldWhen Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed late in the Indian innings, too, bowler Shoriful Islam couldn’t resist giving the batsman a bit of a send-off. What happened at the end of the match, however, was the worst of the lot.There were a few bottles thrown into Senwes Park from the stands as well – the two sets of fans having a go at each other was pretty much a constant during the game. The stakes were high, and so were the tempers. It might have rubbed off on the players too.For a while now, at least in terms of the on-field action between the senior teams, the Bangladesh v India rivalry has perhaps even crossed India v Pakistan in terms of intensity. At the Under-19 level, too, more than one game in the last two years have had close finishes, and Akbar admitted that there was an element of “revenge” on the part of the Bangladesh boys for their defeat by just five runs in the Asia Cup final in September last year.”I’ll say India-Bangladesh rivalry bring the part, and before the World Cup final, we lost the Asia Cup final to them a couple of months ago. So I think the boys are really pumped up and take a revenge,” Akbar said. “I won’t say it should have happened, but I will be sorry for my side.”According to Anil Patel, the Indian team manager, the ICC has told the Indian team management that the match referee would be studying the footage of the final minutes of the match and update them on Monday.”We don’t know what actually happened,” Patel told ESPNcrcinfo. “Everybody was in a shock, absolutely, but we don’t know what happened exactly. The ICC officials are going to watch the footage of the last few minutes and they are going to let us know.”According to Patel, the Indian team management was intending to speak to the match officials, but added that Labrooy, the match referee, himself said the ICC was taking stock of the incident.”The referee came to me. He was sorry about the incident. He clarified the ICC is going to take very seriously what has happened during the match and the last session and they are going to witness the footage and they will tell us in the morning [on the next step].”There has been no official reaction yet from the ICC on the players’ actions.

فليك يرد على إشادة ميسي ويكشف قراره بشأن البقاء مدربًا لـ برشلونة لـ 10 سنوات

ظهر مدرب برشلونة هانز فليك، في مؤتمر صحفي اليوم الجمعة، قبل مباراة فريقه أمام سيلتا فيجو بمنافسات الدوري الإسباني.

ويعود برشلونة متصدر الدوري الإسباني للمنافسة بعد نهاية فترة التوقف الدولي، حيث يحل ضيفًا غدًا على سيلتا فيجو.

وقال فليك: “من المهم دائمًا العودة بقوة بعد الاستراحة، هذا هو هدفنا للغد”.

وعن رأي النجم الأرجنتيني ليونيل ميسي في برشلونة وفليك حيث أشاد به، علّق: “إنه لشرف كبير أن أستمع إلى أفضل لاعب في التاريخ، ميسي يتابع الفريق عن كثب ويرى كيف ينمو الشباب، هذا يعني الكثير للجميع”.

طالع تصريحات ميسي عن هانز فليك وبرشلونة

وعن احتساب التسلل على روبرت ليفاندوفسكي في الهدف أمام ريال سوسيداد، رد فليك: “لم يكن الأمر مهمًا، في بعض الأحيان يكون من الجيد الحصول على تفسير من رابطة الدوري الإسباني أو الاتحاد، ولكن في النهاية، نحن جميعًا بشر والأشياء تحدث، نريد أن نلعب المباراة التالية وهي غدًا”.

وعن الثنائي أندرياس كريستنسن ورونالد أراوخو، علّق: “يبدو لي أنها كانت عملية جراحية مهمة، لكنها صغيرة نأمل أن يعود قريبًا، يبدو لي أنه سيعود يوم الأحد (إشارة لأراوخو)، ليس في التدريبات بنسبة 100٪، لكننا سنكون قادرين على دمجه”.

وفيما يتعلق بلياقة جافي، أكد فليك: “يمكن أن يبدأ أساسيًا”.

وبشأن أداء لاعبه مارك كاسادو مع منتخب إسبانيا، استطرد: “عليك أن تسأل دي لا فوينتي، لكنني كنت سعيدًا جدًا برؤية الطريقة التي لعب بها، لقد لعب بنفس الطريقة التي يلعب بها هنا، إنه في حالة جيدة، وعليه الاستمرار على هذا المسار”.

وسُئل فليك إذا كان يرى نفسه في برشلونة لمدة 10 سنوات ورد: “هذا يتنبأ بالمستقبل، 10 سنوات؟ عندما يمر القليل من الوقت، سنرى، أعتقد أنني لن أتمكن من البقاء لفترة طويلة، لدي 4 أحفاد وسيتعين علي تكريس المزيد من الوقت لهم”.

وأتم بشأن المركز الأنسب للاعبه جافي: “عندما سألت جافي، أخبرني أنه يستطيع اللعب في أي مركز، هذه ليست مشكلة بالنسبة لي، إنه يبذل قصارى جهده في جميع المراكز”.

West Ham must cash in on 3/10 star who just condemned Moyes

West Ham United's hopes of qualifying for Europe next season were eradicated on a miserable Sunday afternoon at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea thrashing David Moyes' side 5-0 in the Premier League.

Chances of playing on the continent were already slim but the horrorshow against Chelsea has brought the east London club's piling problems to the foreground.

West Ham manager David Moyes looks dejected

Moyes has been expected to finish his contract this summer and depart the club but now that eventuality looks certain, with the players disinterested and dispirited.

Change is needed – and not just in the dugout. While he's one of the most talented and influential members of the Irons set-up, Lucas Paqueta is surely now headed for the exit upon the campaign's conclusion.

Lucas Paqueta's performance vs Chelsea

Paqueta, West Ham's £51m club-record signing, has been exemplary since arriving nearly two years ago, playing an instrumental role in his team's triumph in the Europa Conference League last season and scoring eight goals and adding seven assists in all competitions this term.

Lucas Paqueta for West Ham

But the 26-year-old's level has nosedived these past several weeks, with The Athletic's Roshane Thomas saying that "his form has tailed off and he has work to do to leave West Ham on a high," referencing Manchester City's fierce interest in the Brazilian.

But he hasn't produced displays of merit recently, suffering as one of West Ham's most miserable performers at Stamford Bridge, with The Evening Standard's Malik Ouzia branding him with a 3/10 match rating and writing: 'Looks to have phoned it in at this point. Form has gone off a cliff at the back end of the campaign. Did play a terrific pass for Emerson chance.'

Lucas Paqueta: Stats vs Chelsea

Stat

#

Minutes played

76'

Touches

46

Accurate passes

24/34 (71%)

Possession lost

15x

Shots on target

0

Shots off target

1

Key passes

2

Crosses

0/2

Duels won

3/5

Tackles

0

Interceptions

0

Yellow card

1

Stats via Sofascore

His statistics from the Premier League contest aren't awful, per se, but his usually high-energy defensive work was nonexistent and he failed to provide the isolated Michail Antonio with effective support – the centre-forward completed just three passes all afternoon.

It's safe to say that his heart is not in it, and while Paqueta is one of the elite playmakers in the division, he must be sold this summer.

Why West Ham must cash in on Lucas Paqueta

Last year, Manchester City were on the verge of signing Paqueta for a staggering £80m fee but for an FA betting investigation into the Brazil international, still ongoing.

That inquiry notwithstanding, it looks likely that Pep Guardiola's side will move for Paqueta to add some depth and competition for the ageing but awesome Kevin De Bruyne, who is nearly 33, should he be cleared from wrongdoing.

As per FBref, Paqueta ranks among the top 10% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for passes attempted, the top 6% for progressive passes, the top 2% for tackles, the top 18% for interceptions, the top 20% for clearances and the top 4% for aerial duels won per 90.

The all-action midfielder might feel irreplaceable but so too was Declan Rice, who joined Arsenal in a £105m transfer last summer in a move that enabled bids for players such as Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez and more.

Paqueta is not interested in a long-term future at the London Stadium – that is the truth, plain and cold. But by cashing in lucratively, West Ham and whoever Moyes' likely successor will be shall open up doors and dimensions from which the club may prosper.

The foundations are in place for lasting promise, and Paqueta has to go.

West Ham could keep Paqueta by appointing "perfect" Amorim alternative

This manager might just prove to be the right fit to succeed David Moyes at the London Stadium.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 30, 2024

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