The actions of West Ham majority owner David Sullivan in the last 24 hours – coupled with reports emerging from Brazil – suggest a deal to sell Lucas Paqueta to Flamengo is close.
Life is never dull in the weird and wonderful world of West Ham – and this week has not disappointed in that regard.
Lucas Paqueta has dominated headlines with his apparent desperation to leave the Hammers for a return to Brazil with boyhood club Flamengo.
There has been claim and counterclaim as to the truth of the situation.
But with so many different agendas of the various parties involved, set against the backdrop of West Ham’s desperate bid to avoid relegation, it is difficult to know who and what to believe.
West Ham’s Paqueta saga appears to be drawing to a close
One line is that Paqueta refused to play against QPR and is not training with the team as he pushes for the Hammers to let him leave for Flamengo, his first club.
The word from his camp is that he has a back injury.
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West Ham’s board issued a stern warning to Paqueta amid rumours he could go on strike to force the club’s hand after Flamengo saw a reported £32m bid rejected.
Then came a big flash point.
West Ham made an astonishing Paqueta accusation on Thursday following intense speculation over the situation.
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West Ham’s ownership accused Paqueta of ‘lies’ and ‘playing games’ over his supposed back injury as talk in Brazil ramped up that a deal was inevitable.
Nuno Espirito Santo held a meeting with the 28-year-old playmaker this week. The Portuguese played the situation with a straight bat in his pre-Spurs press conference but dropped his guard slightly when saying ‘the club must resolve the situation quickly’.
Reports have claimed that Nuno agreed to ask West Ham to let Paqueta leave after holding that meeting with the 28-year-old.
West Ham’s asking price is around £42.5m – some £10m more than Flamengo initially offered. But word from Brazil is that the biggest club outside of Europe can easily reach that figure.
Now David Sullivan’s actions suggest a West Ham deal for Paqueta is close.
Sullivan’s actions suggest West Ham deal for Paqueta is close
Sullivan is West Ham’s de facto director of football since the departures of Tim Steidten and Kyle Macaulay.
And it is what he is not saying that may now be the clearest indication that a West Ham deal to sell Paqueta is edging towards completion.
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The absence of familiar pushback, denial or delay tactics has not gone unnoticed after an approach from a prominent Hammers insider, who has admitted himself it suggests something is ‘in play’.
It will leave many reading between the lines and concluding that groundwork has already been done behind the scenes as the situation quietly accelerates given reports of a meeting between West Ham and Flamengo being set for Friday to finalise an agreement.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Sources in Brazil claim negotiations between Flamengo and West Ham through intermediaries are continuing today.
Paqueta is said to have agreed personal terms in principle on a four-year contract with his former club, who are prepared to offer West Ham €35m (£30.4m) plus €5m (£4.3m) of add-ons. West Ham are reported to have asked for a condition that Paqueta is loaned back to them for the rest of the season but this is yet to be verified by either side and Flamengo are said to be against the idea.
Sean Whetstone, who is a close ally of Sullivan, says club and agent sources were staying tight-lipped to him over the latest from both sides ‘indicating something is in play’.
Sources in Brazil claim negotiations between Flamengo and West Ham through intermediaries are continuing today.
Paqueta is said to have agreed personal terms in principle on a four year contract with his former club who are prepared to offer West Ham €35m (£30.4m) plus €5m… pic.twitter.com/M4QyUU5qHR
— West Ham Football (@westhamfootball) January 15, 2026
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‘Paqueta’s head is already in Brazil’
In Brazil meanwhile, Monica Alves – a reporter working on Flamengo’s biggest news site Flamengo Coluna do Fla, told its 1.1 million followers that the player’s camp say ‘Paqueta’s head is already in Brazil’ as a deal for his signing is ‘practically set’.
“Everything is practically set for the signing of Lucas Paquetá by Flamengo,” Alves said.
“This Friday (16), in the afternoon (in England), during a meeting, Flamengo will formalize the proposal for the player to define the payment method, the contractual details, and the release date.
“It’s worth remembering that The Telegraph reported that the English club would like Paquetá to stay until the end of the season. However, the player’s “head is already in Brazil,” according to sources close to him.”
Tudo praticamente certo para a contratação de Lucas Paquetá pelo Flamengo.
Nesta sexta-feira (16), no período da tarde (na Inglaterra), em reunião, o Flamengo vai formalizar a proposta pelo jogador para definir a forma de pagamento, os pormenores contratuais e a data de… pic.twitter.com/GaOVgRhr0J
— Mônica Alves (@monicaalvesfs) January 15, 2026
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