Major exclusive: Board confirm Spurs and Villa two of four clubs battling for Lucas Paqueta
West Ham Confirm Tottenham and Aston Villa Among Clubs Battling to Sign Lucas Paquetá
The West Ham United board have officially confirmed growing speculation that Lucas Paquetá is attracting serious transfer interest, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa named among four clubs keen to prise him away from the London Stadium in the final days of the summer window.
Paquetá’s future has been the subject of constant debate ever since he was cleared of spot-fixing charges earlier this summer, a ruling which finally removed the shadow that had followed him for nearly two years. Yet instead of providing stability, the decision has only intensified rumours that the Brazilian playmaker is eyeing a fresh start away from East London.
Financial pressures at West Ham
The Hammers’ financial struggles were already exposed in brutal fashion when they sanctioned the sale of Mohammed Kudus, arguably their brightest attacking talent, to fierce rivals Tottenham. That shock transfer was the first piece of business between the two London clubs in over 14 years. Now, it seems another deal could quickly follow, with Spurs circling Paquetá.
For many West Ham fans, the thought of losing two marquee players to the same rival in one window feels unthinkable, particularly given the mood of unease that has been growing since Graham Potter’s arrival as manager. The anger could turn into outright mutiny if another star is sold without top-quality reinforcements being brought in.
Villa also lurking, but restrictions in play
It isn’t just Tottenham in the hunt. Aston Villa, who like Spurs have been working under the watchful eye of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), are also firmly in contention. Unai Emery’s side have found ways around their restrictions, most notably through the controversial sale of their women’s team and by offloading academy graduate Jacob Ramsey for £43m.
West Ham themselves had hoped to sign Ramsey as a direct replacement for Kudus, while Tottenham also identified the midfielder as a possible target. Instead, Villa’s manoeuvring has left both rivals frustrated and has now thrown them into what can only be described as a transfer triangle involving Paquetá.
The Paquetá dilemma
Despite his inconsistent performances over the past 19 months, Paquetá remains one of the most talented individuals on West Ham’s books. At 27, he still has prime years ahead of him, and his ability to produce moments of magic makes him invaluable, even if his tendency to gift possession has infuriated supporters.
The Brazilian reminded fans of both his brilliance and his flaws in West Ham’s 5-1 humiliation against Chelsea. He opened the scoring with a thunderous long-range strike, but later contributed directly to two of Chelsea’s goals with costly mistakes near his own penalty area.
That display summed up the dilemma facing Potter and the West Ham hierarchy: keep faith with a mercurial talent who can change games in an instant, or cash in now and attempt to rebuild with more reliable options.
Romano, fan frustration, and mixed messages
On the eve of the season, leading transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano claimed Paquetá had asked to leave, a revelation that infuriated West Ham supporters just before their side slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Sunderland. Given that the club had stood firmly by Paquetá during his prolonged legal battle, many fans felt betrayed at the prospect of him jumping ship now.
Emergency talks followed between Potter, the club’s hierarchy, and Paquetá himself, after which the player hinted he would remain at the club – at least for this season. Yet the speculation refuses to die down, particularly with Spurs and Villa pressing hard and Saudi Arabian clubs also monitoring developments.
West Ham board break silence
When directly asked by Hammers News whether the rumours of Tottenham and Aston Villa’s interest were accurate, a senior spokesman for the club’s owners confirmed the links, stating:
> “Yes, Spurs are interested in Paquetá, as well as two clubs in Saudi Arabia and Aston Villa. Who knows what will happen.”
The admission makes it clear that West Ham are keeping their options open. While the official line is that Paquetá remains a key part of Potter’s plans, the reality is that a sizeable bid could still tempt the board into doing business – especially if they believe the funds could help ease financial pressures and strengthen elsewhere.
A potential breaking point for fans
Selling Paquetá to Tottenham, however, would be seen as a betrayal too far by many fans. Two major sales to their North London rivals in the space of a single transfer window would likely provoke fury, particularly if replacements do not match the quality lost. A move to Villa or even Saudi Arabia would be more palatable, though still painful given his status.
For now, West Ham are walking a tightrope. Potter promised supporters an “exciting and interesting” summer, but with the clock ticking down, many would argue it has been anything but exciting – though it has certainly become more dramatic.
Some cynics suggest the club may ultimately retain Paquetá and attempt to spin it as a victory, pointing to the heavy interest as proof of his value while claiming their ability to keep him demonstrates ambition.
Whether supporters buy into that narrative, however, is another story. With the new Premier League season already underway and West Ham’s squad looking alarmingly thin in key areas, the coming days could prove decisive for both Paquetá’s future and Potter’s credibility as manager.