Newcastle United in ‘brilliant position’ to sign Lucas Paqueta as pictures emerge – pundit
Newcastle United have an advantage in the race to sign Lucas Paqueta after he was spotted in the city centre.
That’s according to former Leeds United stopper Paddy Kenny, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the Lyon attacker’s future.
Paqueta, 24, travelled to Newcastle over the weekend to visit Brazil teammate Bruno Guimaraes.
He and his partner were pictured by Guimaraes near the Tyne Bridge and the pair shares several photos of themselves sightseeing on their respective Instagram accounts.
According to Le10sport (21 December), Newcastle offered Lyon €40million (£33.9million) for the Brazilian ahead of the January transfer window.
Kenny claims there was no better way for Newcastle to convince Paqueta to sign that their performance against Arsenal on Monday (16 May).
“That always helps, doesn’t it?” Kenny told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild.
“If Newcastle are interested, it always helps to know someone’s family or someone’s friend who can have a word with them.
“It’s also nice to know you won’t be on your own when you move away. It gives Newcastle an advantage, that.
“We will have to wait and see because just visiting the city could mean nothing but there have been links.
“He’s the calibre of player Newcastle could sign these days so why not?
“It looks like they are in a brilliant position to sign him if that’s what they want to do.”
Paqueta has made 35 appearances in Ligue 1 this season.
He has scored six goals and provided nine assists.
In other news, Man United hijack deal for Magpies target Sven Botman.