Lucas Paqueta agrees terms with Man City as West Ham set £85m asking price – Paper Round

The Telegraph reports that Manchester City will have to pay up for Lucas Paqueta, but the Brazilian has agreed terms with his prospective new club.

“The amount equates to a release clause in Paqueta’s contract and although that is not active until next year it is understood to be the figure that West Ham will find acceptable now.

“West Ham fear that the Brazilian international wants to force through the move and are already making contingency plans should – as is expected – he leave before the end of the month.

“The 25-year-old signed for £51 million from Lyon last year and West Ham will try to drive his price as close to £85 million as possible. It has been claimed in France that Paqueta has already agreed personal terms with City on a six-year contract.”

The Mirror believes that Chelsea could spend big to land Djordje Petrovic from MLS side New England Revolution after the departure of Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

“Petrovic, 23, was also a Manchester United target earlier in the window. However, Erik ten Hag’s team has instead signed Andre Onana in a $60 million transfer from Inter Miami.

“Doing a deal would mean the club must continue splashing the cash, as Petrovic will not come cheap. The London Evening Standard claims he has a $30 million price tag.

“The capital club meeting or exceeding that figure would comfortably top the previous record transfer fee paid for an MLS player. That total is the $27 million Newcastle United sent Atlanta United when acquiring Miguel Almiron in early 2019.”

Fresh from closing in on Wataru Endo of Stuttgart, Liverpool could also resurrect a move for Ryan Gravenberch of Bayern Munich as they look to reinforce their central midfield.

“Endo, the combative Japan captain, is well known to Liverpool sporting director Jorge Schmadtke and can also play at centre-back. He is due on Merseyside for a medical.

“Gravenberch, 21, is open to leaving as he wants to play more regularly. Bayern have so far resisted selling but they are overloaded with midfielders and are under pressure to recoup funds after Harry Kane’s £100m signing.

“Gravenberch joined Bayern from Ajax last year on a five-year contract, but only made three Bundesliga starts last season and could now depart.”

Newcastle might try to negotiate their Financial Fair Play restrictions by bringing in Chelsea’s teenager Lewis Hall, who had been close to a switch to Crystal Palace.

“The 18-year-old has signed a new six-year deal at Chelsea with the option for a further year, after a remarkable first 12 senior appearances at Stamford Bridge.

“Hall was then set to make a move to Selhurst Park to make his debut for the Eagles on Saturday away at Sheffield United.

“But Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is keen to make a move on the midfielder even with the Financial Fair Play rules in his way.”