According to British media GIVE ME SPORT, West Ham chairman David Sullivan will not allow team midfielder Paqueta to leave the team during the winter window, but the club has accepted that it is likely to lose him next summer.
West Ham sold Kudus for a high transfer fee this summer. After appointing Nuno as the new coach in September, the team is still in the relegation zone of the standings. Reports indicate that West Ham will not consider letting key members start a new challenge midway through the season as the club realizes that could put their relegation hopes in jeopardy.
According to GIVEMESPORT, West Ham does not plan to sell Paqueta in January, and regardless of whether they can find an ideal replacement, their stance is not expected to change. The club is also preparing for potential offers, and interested teams may test their attitude in the upcoming transfer window.
Paqueta's contract is about to enter the final 18 months. His current weekly salary is 150,000 pounds (excluding bonuses). West Ham firmly believes that he can play a key role in helping the team avoid relegation. The team's goal is to avoid relegation to the English Championship.
According to sources close to team chairman David Sullivan, Paqueta did not ask to leave West Ham, so David Sullivan made the decision not to sell him when an offer was received. At the same time, the club also denied that they would accept a 50 million pound offer in the winter window.
The 28-year-old midfielder recently posted a photo on social media of himself and his sons wearing Hammers jerseys, downplaying speculation that he is keen on a mid-season move. He also kissed the club badge and mimed throwing away a phone after scoring a penalty in the win over Nottingham Forest.
GIVEMESPORT sources said that West Ham can choose to extend Paqueta's contract by one year. Paqueta was originally expected to join Manchester City for a transfer fee of around £80 million, but it was shelved after he was involved in a gambling violation investigation. However, he has remained loyal to West Ham.
GIVEMESPORT news also stated that West Ham has accepted the reality that Paqueta is likely to leave next summer window, and Aston Villa is still most interested in him - they made attempts in the last few days of the summer window, but Nuno and other key figures firmly believe that Paqueta will play an important role in the team's promotion of the Premier League rankings.
Paqueta just helped West Ham achieve their first home win of the season in last weekend's game, and the club already knows that if he is allowed to leave, it may pay a huge price as the team strives to avoid relegation.
GIVEMESPORT learned that Villa’s interest in Paqueta mainly comes from coach Emery, but Villa’s financial situation indicates that even if West Ham finally changes its attention, under the constraints of profit and sustainability rules, it will be difficult for Villa to complete Paqueta’s transaction in the winter window.