According to reports on the continent, Newcastle United is planning a move for West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta and is willing to spend around £62 million to secure his services.
Newcastle has exceeded expectations in the Premier League this season, currently sitting fifth in the table and still well within reach of Champions League qualification, but goals have dried up in recent weeks.
The Magpies have only scored three goals in their last seven Premier League games, and they failed to pose much of an attacking threat in their 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.
Given his team’s recent struggles in front of goal, Eddie Howe is thought to be looking for a new attacking midfielder, with Paqueta fitting the bill, according to Spanish sources (via West Ham Zone).
Newcastle are reportedly willing to match West Ham’s asking price of €70 million (£62 million) for the 25-year-old, with Howe identifying him as a key target for next season.
There is no doubt that the Magpies could benefit from bringing in a playmaker, given that Kieran Trippier has been their most creative player in the Premier League this season, while their midfielders have struggled to create big chances.
Despite being dubbed “sensational,” Paqueta has struggled to create opportunities over the past year, averaging only 0.18 assists per 90 minutes, a total bettered by 56% of his positional peers.
As a result, Newcastle should prioritize a move for Leicester City ace James Maddison, who is regarded as a key summer target, with the Leicester City ace weighing in with a fantastic nine goals and five assists in the Premier League so far this season.
Leave a Reply