Wayne Veysey

Tue 20 February 2024 17:34, UK

West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta and his camp are plotting legal action against the FA if they decide not to charge him for gambling rule breaches, sources have told Football Insider.

A well-placed source has told Football Insider that the Premier League club are set to discover the verdict of Paqueta’s betting breaches soon with the investigation now close to being completed.

The Football Association were contacted by Football Insider recently and issued no comment on the timeline of the investigation but confirmed that it is still ongoing.

Sources say tat Paqueta is “deeply unhappy” that he was denied a move to Man City last summer (2023) after the investigation went public.

It is believed City remain keen on the Brazil international but there is no guarantee they will return for his signature later this year.

West Ham star Paqueta ‘deeply unhappy’ with failed Man City switch

As reported by the Daily Mail in August 2023, Paqueta’s investigation started after the club’s sponsor Betway reported suspicious betting activity.

The bookmakers’ alert system was triggered after a series of bets were placed for the midfielder to be booked during West Ham’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa in March 2023.

Paqueta granted the FA access to his phone in October – months after the investigation had started.

Man City had agreed an £80million deal in principle with West Ham for the transfer of the Brazilian playmaker last summer but were forced to abandon the transfer and turn their attention to signing Matheus Nunes from Wolves.

Paqueta, who is currently injured, has notched five goals and six assists in 27 appearances across all competitions this term.

He is under contract at West Ham until June 2027.

In other news, major update on David Moyes sack as timeline to save job revealed.

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