The BARGAIN answer to West Ham's Lucas Paqueta problem

Cameron Smith

• 9 Apr 2024 13:35 CDT
• 4 min read

West Ham United have played European football in each of the past three seasons, winning the 2023 Europa Conference League, and they are on course to qualify once again this year.

David Moyes has been criticised during his second tenure at the club, but the former Everton and Manchester United boss has helped the Hammers punch well above their way and recent relegation battles are now a thing of the past.

However, they lost Declan Rice last summer and face the prospect of seeing Lucas Paqueta depart the club in 2024 as well.

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The Brazil international has verbally agreed to join Manchester City, as per Foot Mercato, following Pep Guardiola’s failed pursuit last year. Paqueta reportedly has a €100 million release clause, which becomes active in June, and he could well join the treble winners once the current campaign ends.

If Paqueta does leave West Ham, it will cause a massive issue for the east London club. The Brazil international is a supremely talented player and his importance was highlighted during his six-game absence from January to the end of February.

Moyes’ side picked up just three points from a possible 18 with Paqueta sidelined, and their form has vastly improved since his return.

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He is their most important player and a summer departure would be devastating.

However, the Hammers could sign a bargain Championship replacement for Paqueta if he does end up joining Man City.

Gabriel Sara: West Ham’s Lucas Paqueta replacement?

The Championship is a fantastic division and it has been a happy hunting ground for the vast majority of Premier League clubs in recent years.

West Ham are one such team who have benefited from the second tier of English football, with Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen both thriving since leaving the Championship for east London.

Norwich City’s Gabriel Sara could be next, and his Estimated Transfer Value of €6.7m would be a bargain fee.

Just like Paqueta, Sara is a versatile Brazilian and he has played as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder and as a right winger this campaign. His best role, however, is as a box-to-box number eight - the same as Paqueta.

The 24-year-old has 11 goals and 11 assists in 41 Championship appearances this season, while he combines that extrinsic final-third output with a high number of defensive actions.

Sara is certainly a more potent threat when played in an advanced role, but he is capable of being deployed deeper and fits the bill as a creative player next to the more industrial James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez.

Paqueta leaving would be a huge blow for West Ham and Moyes, but signing Sara could help ease those problems and ensure the Hammers don’t suffer a drop off if Man City come calling for Paqueta.