As Everton reportedly join Premier League rivals Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Lucas Paqueta from West Ham United, his return to the Brazil squad under Carlo Ancelotti at least ensures his future on the international stage is settled.
A spokesman for West Ham’s board told Hammers News over the weekend that Aston Villa are battling two Saudi Arabian clubs to sign Graham Potter’s number ten.
And as Mohammed Kudus continues his flying start at Tottenham Hotspur, the already tense mood at the London Stadium will take a turn for the worse if Paqueta ends up reuniting with his former sparring partner in North London.
So, with just one day remaining in the transfer window, this is a distraction West Ham United could do without.
At least, while his future at club level could hardly be more uncertain, a return to the Brazil squad under the iconic presence of Carlo Ancelotti means Lucas Paqueta can look forward to a settled spot in the Selecao once again.
Carlo Ancelotti explains Lucas Paqueta decision as West Ham United ace returns to Brazil squad
Lucas Paqueta was not part of Ancelotti’s roster when his Brazil tenure begun in June, a goalless draw with Ecuador preceding a 1-0 victory over Paraguay.
The former Flamengo playmaker now makes his return just weeks after Paqueta put a two-year spot-fixing trial behind him.
Ancelotti, who also calls up the likes of Casemiro, Matheus Cunha, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Bruno Guimaraes, insists that Paqueta could become a valuable part of his plans due to the versatility and the ‘technical qualities’ he brings to the five-time World Champions.
“I don’t know him but I want to get to know him because he is a very, very important midfielder who can play in different positions on the field. He has technical qualities,” explains the legendary former Real Madrid, AC Milan, Chelsea and Bayern Munich coach.
“So I want to take advantage of this time to get to know him better.”
Brazil will face Chile and Bolivia in a pair of World Cup qualifiers next month. Should Paqueta start in either match, this will mark his involvement in the Brazil XI for the first time since November 2024.
Jarrod Bowen backs Paqueta as Everton join Aston Villa and Tottenham in race
Back to his future at club level, Fabrizio Romano reported after the 3-0 drubbing by Sunderland that Lucas Paqueta was considering his options. Options are something he does not appear to be short of at present, meanwhile.
Daily Mail journalist Simon Jones claims that, after Everton saw a bid rejected for Tomas Soucek, David Moyes is now hoping to reunite with Paqueta at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
As far as his Hammers skipper is concerned, however, Jarrod Bowen is pleased to see Paqueta looking refreshed after a gruelling two-year legal battle.
“He just looks like the weight has been lifted off his shoulders!,” Bowen said before Paqueta opened the scoring against Chelsea with a thumping finish from range.
“I think for him to have a positive outcome [after that spot-fixing charge], we will see the Lucas we know [he can be].”
“The way he was in pre-season, the way he’s come back, and the physical condition he’s in…” Bowen adds. “The quality he’s got, we have seen that in the last couple of years.
“I think this season, for him, is a really big season. He’s ready for it. It’s almost, not like a new signing, but you know when someone has had that [stress] on top of them and it gets taken off, they feel so free. Back to playing football, back to doing what they love, playing with a smile on their face.
“I am really, really happy [for him].”
