West Ham agrees to sell Paquetá to Flamengo with loan-back clause through season end

West Ham has signaled willingness to sell midfielder Lucas Paquetá to Flamengo this month, conditional on the Brazilian club agreeing to loan the player back for the remainder of the English Premier League season.

Flamengo made an initial offer of €35 million (approximately £30.3 million) for the 28-year-old, which West Ham rejected. The clubs are now discussing a fee in the region of €40 million to €45 million. Under the proposed arrangement, Flamengo would complete a permanent transfer while Paquetá remains at West Ham on loan through the end of the season, expected to conclude on May 28.

Paquetá has expressed to West Ham his desire to return to Brazil. Sources indicate the midfielder is pushing to leave the club. Flamengo and Paquetá have already reached a personal agreement, with the player accepting the club's salary offer. Should a deal materialize, Paquetá would sign a four-year contract with Flamengo.

West Ham's insistence on retaining Paquetá through the season reflects the club's precarious position in the Premier League. The team currently occupies 18th place, seven points below Nottingham Forest, which sits just outside the relegation zone. West Ham has lost 13 of its 21 league matches this season, with its most recent victory coming against Burnley on November 8.

The Brazilian top flight does not begin until March, which theoretically creates space for Paquetá to remain in England while completing his move to Flamengo. However, the viability of such an arrangement may depend on West Ham's proximity to the relegation zone as the season progresses.

Flamengo believes Paquetá will be reluctant to remain at West Ham through May and may prefer to complete his transfer during the current window. A meeting between the clubs was expected to take place to discuss specific terms and valuations.

Paquetá was developed by Flamengo before departing the club at the end of a previous season. The midfielder has faced spot-fixing allegations in England, though he was cleared of the charges last year. That episode previously affected his prospects of joining Manchester City in 2023 and is said to have contributed to his dissatisfaction with life in England.