Premier League club eye blow to Manchester City transfer hopes through £85 million release clause removal

Manchester City could suffer an early blow to their summer transfer hopes through West Ham’s reported desire to discuss new terms with midfield star Lucas Paqueta.

Officials from the Premier League champions targeted the Brazilian international towards the end of the last summer market, largely as the club looked to brace themselves for life without Kevin De Bruyne – who had just been sidelined for up to eight months through injury.

With issues surrounding a transfer fee agreement, and ultimately the FA investigation into gambling allegations around Paqueta, Manchester City moved on to other targets and moved swiftly to recruit Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers on deadline day.

However, with the club likely to entertain offers for more than one member of their first-team squad in the upcoming summer market, Manchester City are likely to return for Paqueta in some capacity, should West Ham be open to reigniting talks.

Unfortunately for the Premier League champions, any interest in the Brazilian is likely to be more difficult, with one report suggesting that the London side will look to renew terms with their marquee talent in the middle of the pitch.

That is according to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, who reports that officials within West Ham United are ‘willing to sit down’ with star midfielder Lucas Paqueta and discuss ‘lucrative new terms’ with the player.

It is detailed that such new terms would also see his current £85 million release clause ‘torn up’. However, unfortunately for those within the London Stadium, it is reassured that the Brazilian ‘only has eyes for’ a summer move to Manchester City right now.

As mentioned, and widely reported in various quarters, any such moves for high-profile midfield names this summer are likely to be dependant on the Etihad club’s ability to retain some of their existing options in midfield.

Bernardo Silva could yet reopen the idea of an exit from Manchester City, having entertained the idea of a move away from the club for a number of transfer windows, with Barcelona eyed as a potential destination in moving closer to a more culturally-ideal location.

City are highly likely to market Kalvin Phillips in the coming months, with the Englishman struggling to break into Pep Guardiola’s plans and establish himself as a dependable back-up option to Rodri over the course of a season.