Man City Table £70m Paqueta Transfer Bid As Guardiola Seeks To Boost Midfield

Manchester City have reportedly tabled a £70 million ($89.4m) bid for West Ham midfielder, Lucas Paqueta.

Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and winger Riyad Mahrez both left City this summer and while they have signed centre-back Josko Gvardiol and number eight Mateo Kovacic, reports in Brazil claim the Premier League title holders want to strengthen their options in the centre of the park. GloboEsporte states Pep Guardiola’s team have tabled a £70m ($89.4m) bid for West Ham star Paqueta, although the Hammers are expected to reject the offer for the midfielder and demand a higher fee.

Manchester City have reportedly tabled a £70 million ($89.4m) bid for West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta.

Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and winger Riyad Mahrez both left City this summer and while they have signed centre-back Josko Gvardiol and number eight Mateo Kovacic, reports in Brazil claim the Premier League title holders want to strengthen their options in the centre of the park. GloboEsporte states Pep Guardiola’s team have tabled a £70m ($89.4m) bid for West Ham star Paqueta, although the Hammers are expected to reject the offer for the midfielder and demand a higher fee.

Paqueta signed for the east London team a year ago for an initial fee of £36.5m ($46.6m) that could rise to £51m ($65m) with add-ons. The club record signing had a solid debut season under David Moyes, with the former Lyon man helping the Hammers to win the Europa Conference League. However, the 25-year-old’s contract expires in 2027 and with West Ham selling Declan Rice to Arsenal for £105m (£$134m), it is unlikely they would allow another vital midfielder to leave – unless they receive an astronomical fee.

The report claims Guardiola was keen on signing Brazilian international Paqueta 12 months ago as a potential replacement for Bernardo Silva, but the Portuguese midfielder ended up staying at City in the end.