Agbonlahor names the three West Ham players holding back Lucas Paqueta
The likes of Michail Antonio, Aaron Cresswell and Gianluca Scamacca may be the reason Lucas Paqueta is yet to perform for West Ham, according to Gabby Agbonlahor.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Aston Villa and England attacker called on David Moyes to build his side around Paqueta.
The 25-year-old has featured in three of Brazil’s games at the World Cup in Qatar and scored his first goal of the tournament in their 4-1 win over South Korea on Monday (5 December).
He moved to the London Stadium in the summer from Lyon for a club-record fee in excess of £50million but is yet to find his best form.
The midfielder is yet to score for his new club but has registered three assists in 12 appearances across all competitions, including nine starts.
Asked why Paqueta has not been able to replicate his performances for Brazil in a West Ham shirt, Agbonlahor told Football Insider‘s Connor Whitley: “I think it’s difficult.
“I was speaking to a West Ham fan about this and it’s different when you go from playing with Casemiro, Neymar, Raphinha, Richarlison, Vinicius to with Aaron Cresswell, Antonio, Scamacca.
“Those are different players who maybe don’t have the same mind frame as you. He looks like he wants to play one-twos and likes to play with the ball.
“Maybe West Ham is not the right team for him. Put him in Man City’s team and I’m sure it suits him.
“I think they need to build the team around Paqueta to get the best out of him. That’s what Moyes has got to do, play towards his strengths, that tiki-taka football.”
In other news, Kieran Maguire has tipped an “auction” for West Ham as the “deal of the century” is cited.