Declan Rice reacts to happy Lucas Paqueta post amid West Ham exit update
Lucas Paqueta has caught the eye of Declan Rice on social media amid links he could leave West Ham United this summer.
The Brazil international joined the Hammers from Lyon in the summer of 2022 and has since registered 18 goals and 14 assists in 120 appearances across all competitions — lifting a Uefa Conference League title along the way.
However, Paqueta‘s time at the London Stadium hasn’t always been smooth, with the midfielder recently escaping a potential lifetime ban for suspicious betting activity.
Manchester City were linked with an £80million swoop for Paqueta in 2023 but given what has transpired since, plus the fact that the player has just two years left on his contract, West Ham cannot hope to make that sort of money anymore.
Declan Rice reacts to Paqueta message
Despite the uncertainty around his future, Paqueta took to social media on Tuesday (29 July) to share some images of himself exploring Times Square in New York.
West Ham are currently in the Big Apple for Premier League Summer Series friendlies against Manchester United, Everton and Bournemouth.
Paqueta captioned his post with Grinning Squinting Face and Victory Hand emojis.
Arsenal‘s Declan Rice was among those to drop Paqueta a like, along with Brazil teammates Bruno Guimaraes, Joao Pedro and Evanilson of Newcastle, Chelsea and Bournemouth, respectively.
Fellow Brazilian Hammer Luis Guilherme also liked the post, which featured an image of him alongside Paqueta.
West Ham preparing Paqueta sale
Gone are the days when West Ham could hope to make an astronomical fee for Paqueta.
In fact, according to former Premier League scout Mick Brown, the Hammers will be looking for something closer to £30m this summer as they seek to raise funds for manager Graham Potter.
“West Ham are prepared to let Lucas Paqueta go,” he told Football Insider (29 July).
“It’s something they’ve been open to for a while, but the problem has been people weren’t prepared to make offers while he had the ban hanging over him.
“Why would they spend big money on a player who might get a lifetime ban the next week?
“Now he’s been cleared of that so I expect these clubs will now step up their interest.
“The plan at West Ham is to make money from his sale and spend it on improving the squad.
“The problem for West Ham is that while this has been going on in the background, it’s clearly effected him, and his form has dropped significantly.
“Those interested clubs now aren’t going to be paying the £60-70million West Ham would’ve wanted for him when he was at his best.
“Man City were close to that deal for £80million, weren’t they? But they won’t get that fee now.
“I think the fee I’ve heard is around £30-35million that they would consider.
“So it’s a shame for West Ham and a shame for the player that all of this has happened almost for no reason because he’s now been cleared.“