Aston Villa are the latest club to register an interest in West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta.
According to Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, the Villans reached out to West Ham to explore the conditions of a potential deal.
Villa are braced for the potential exit of talented attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, who has attracted interest from several rival clubs.
They see Paqueta as an ideal replacement if they lose Rogers, but West Ham will only entertain a deal if they receive an offer of around £60 million.
Since the Brazilian playmaker was exonerated of spot-fixing allegations, he has become an attractive option for Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur.
Villa aren’t the first to express an interest in Paqueta, but they look to be taking concrete steps to agree a deal before Monday’s deadline.
Both clubs are navigating tight financial waters under the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), and player sales have become a necessary step in bolstering their squads.
West Ham have already cashed in on Mohammed Kudus after sanctioning his £55m move to Tottenham Hotspur – a sale that broke a 14-year embargo between the London rivals.
Paqueta could now follow Kudus through the London Stadium exit if Villa formalise their interest with a bid.
Paqueta exit will land West Ham a huge windfall
Paqueta is one of West Ham’s most valuable assets, so a potential exit for the Brazilian will land the Hammers a huge financial windfall.
He came close to joining Manchester City in a blockbuster deal two years ago, but betting allegations threw a wrench into that transfer.
Since he has now been declared not guilty, many clubs are revisiting the prospect of landing his signature.
At 28, Paqueta is firmly in the prime of his career. He has struggled to consistently deliver at a high level, but is still a decent addition for any club.
He still has two years left on his West Ham contract, so the club would only give the green light if they receive an offer that matches their valuation.