Keith Wyness drops brutal Lucas Paqueta verdict, makes claim about West Ham fee
Lucas Paqueta will not be returning to the Premier League after leaving West Ham to join Brazilian side Flamengo.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes the deal was the “right solution” for West Ham and Paqueta.
Flamengo signed Paqueta from West Ham at the end of the January transfer window in a deal worth around £35million.
Paqueta had been pushing to leave West Ham after three-and-a-half years at the club, with the Brazilian seen as a divisive figure.
Lucas Paqueta ‘let West Ham and the fans down’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes West Ham were “best to get rid” of Paqueta.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the midfielder would have been a liability in their relegation fight.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “It was a miraculous recovery in his head and I think it is the right solution for all parties. He’s a hothead, he’s Brazilian and just mentally, everything that’s happened.
“We defended him on some occasions, but I’ve got to be critical of him recently and look, I think West Ham are best off without him, they’ve got a decent price for him. Although you think a player of Paqueta’s ability is worth a lot more, actually, I think, to get the money they got was a decent price and I think they’re best rid of him because they’re in a relegation battle, and you need everybody focused and he was not focused, and he was a problem in the camp.
“West Ham had a busy window, and they’ve tried to strengthen and they bought those two strikers and some other players in. Look, it’s Paqueta. I’m afraid flashes of brilliance for a player that we loved to see for a while, but once again that South American temperament that has so often happened in the past has let him down and lets the club down and lets the fans down.
“So I’m sure he’ll do well in Flamengo, but I don’t think he’ll be coming back to the Premier League.”
Axel Disasi details emerge
West Ham bolstered their defensive ranks on deadline day with the loan addition of Axel Disasi from Chelsea.
The 27-year-old has not made a Premier League appearance for Chelsea this season after being frozen out at Stamford Bridge.
It was revealed West Ham will pay Chelsea a loan fee of £1.68m for Disasi, and cover his wages until the end of the season.