Chelsea plot Lucas Paqueta hijack after €40m bid

Tom Weber

Updated: 13 Jan 2026 15:25 GMT
4 min read

Chelsea are interested in beating Flamengo to the signing of wantaway West Ham star Lucas Paqueta, according to Brazilian media.

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The 28-year-old's East London soap opera appears to finally be coming to an end. Paqueta was previously close to joining Man City and Aston Villa, but both transfers collapsed, albeit for very different reasons.

His move to the Etihad was famously halted by an investigation into illicit betting, while his transfer to Villa Park collapsed due to premature reporting from insider Fabrizio Romano, as the Italian himself has admitted.

Current ETV

Lucas Paquetá

AM, M (C)

West Ham

Lucas Paquetá

AM, M (C)

West Ham

ETV Range

€56.2M - €68.7M

Following his failed move to Aston Villa, Paqueta celebrated a goal by throwing away an imaginary phone and kissing the West Ham badge to signal his commitment to the club. This devotion, however, was short-lived.

The Brazilian is now pushing to leave the struggling Hammers and agreed terms with boyhood club Flamengo on Monday. An opening €40 million bid from the Serie A giants has been rejected by West Ham as they don't want to lose their star man.

Chelsea to hijack Paqueta deal?

According to Brazilian journalist Renan Moura, Flamengo are far from the only side interested in the attacking midfielder. He claims that Chelsea are also keeping tabs on the situation.

"I heard that Flamengo have already made an initial bid to West Ham for Lucas Paqueta, but the English club rejected the offer," Moura wrote on X. "The Rubro-Negro are expected to present new figures to bring the player to Gavea as early as 2026 and may reach up to €40m to make it happen.

"Chelsea are a club interested in the player and could open up competition with Flamengo still in this winter window. Despite the player's longing to return to his club of heart, people close to the midfielder believe it would be best for him to stay longer in Europe since he's still only 28 years old.

"The decision, however, lies with the player and West Ham, with whom he has a contract until June 2027. Paqueta is truly willing to leave England due to the way he's been treated since the start of the investigation into his alleged involvement in match-fixing."

Given the number of attacking midfielders at Chelsea and Paqueta's age, it seems doubtful that the Blues will enter the race for him. A return to Flamengo appears to be a much more realistic scenario.

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