Lucas Paquetá has become the center of a dispute that goes far beyond numbers and deadlines. On the eve of the match against Tottenham, Nuno Espírito Santo made it clear that West Ham need to resolve the midfielder’s situation quickly, not out of convenience, but for survival. The club is fighting relegation in the Premier League and can’t afford to move forward with uncertainty surrounding one of its key players. When the coach talks about mobilizing the “best players,” he’s saying the waiting game is over.
Nuno’s public comments lay bare a scenario of internal pressure. West Ham opened negotiations asking for 60 million euros, a figure that worked more as protection than as a true starting point. Flamengo, on the other hand, have always operated around 40 million. The gap seemed wide at first, but it narrowed once Paquetá’s desire firmly entered the picture. The midfielder made it clear he doesn’t want to remain in England, and that shifted the balance of the talks.
The player’s desire changed everything
Flamengo always knew their biggest leverage in the deal wouldn’t be money, but the player’s will. That’s why the club chose an unusual strategy, holding back an official bid and letting Paquetá handle the political wear inside West Ham. The meeting held on Monday opened a more direct channel between the clubs, and the one scheduled for Friday is expected to be decisive. The fact that West Ham are now openly willing to sell already represents significant progress compared to the initial scenario.
The information about Paquetá’s conversation with Nuno, first reported by journalist Pablo Rua, helped reinforce that reading. The coach knows Paquetá is an important piece, but also understands that keeping an unhappy player can turn into a bigger problem. The English club signaled financial flexibility after acknowledging that the midfielder doesn’t want to continue in the project, bringing the numbers closer to what Flamengo consider workable.
The stalemate now is time, not price
If money is no longer the main obstacle, the structure of the deal has become the new sticking point. West Ham are willing to sell Paquetá, but want to keep him on loan until the end of the English season, which only wraps up on May 24. The proposal, reported by The Guardian, reflects the sporting desperation of a club fighting to avoid relegation. For Flamengo, the idea doesn’t sit well. The club sees little sense in making a major investment now only to have access to the player months later, essentially in the middle of the Brazilian soccer season.
Even so, internally, Flamengo’s leadership views this move as a sign that the negotiation is alive and moving toward a resolution. Before, the issue was the fee. Now, it’s the calendar. All signs point to the talks continuing.