West Ham fear Lucas Paqueta betting investigation will scupper their transfer planning, with a lack of clarity putting them on edge before Man City target’s £85m release clause kicks in this summer

West Ham are concerned that the FA’s betting probe into Lucas Paqueta could affect their transfer plans for a second successive summer, with his £85million release clause to become active at the end of the season.

Paqueta is still subject to an active FA investigation six months after the governing body began making inquiries into suspicious betting patterns surrounding three bookings last year, which led to the collapse of an £80m move to Manchester City that had been agreed by the clubs. A similar FA investigation into bets placed on a single booking received by Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka three years ago took 17 months to conclude without any action being taken.

City remain interested in signing Paqueta, who has shrugged off the controversy and injury problems to enjoy another excellent season for West Ham, with Pep Guardiola earmarking the 26-year-old as a potential replacement for Bernado Silva. The Portuguese midfield player will enter the final two years of his contract in the summer and City may listen to offers if he declines to sign an extension, amidst interest from Paris Saint Germain and several Saudi Pro League clubs.

West Ham have no wish to sell Paqueta who is under contract until 2027, but would like some clarity over the situation, particularly as there a £85m release clause in his contract can be triggered from this summer. The club are understood to be frustrated at the lack of information they have received from the FA, whose investigators interviewed Paqueta and analysed his phone records last October, but have not provided a recent update.

Paqueta is believed to have denied any wrongdoing after the FA opened an investigation into suspicious betting patterns on three of his bookings, which as Mail Sport revealed last summer included a yellow card he was shown at Bournemouth for shoving Illia Zabarnyi on the opening day of this season. The first caution being scrutinised is a yellow card Paqueta received for a late challenge on John McGinn in a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa n March 11, while a booking he picked up for fouling Leeds’ Crysencio Summerville on May 21 is also being looked at.

An investigation into suspicious betting patterns surrounding three of Lucas Paqueta’s bookings is ongoing

The probe exploded into life after an integrity alert was triggered on bets for Paqueta to be booked at Bournemouth in August

West Ham’s concern at the prospect of further delays has been heightened after they discovered that a similar FA investigation into betting on a booking Granit Xhaka received whilst playing for Arsenal against Leeds in December 2021 took 17 months to conclude. The Swiss midfield player was never charged, but Arsenal were not formally told that the FA’s investigation into a single booking he picked up for time-wasting at Elland Road was closed until May 2023.

Paqueta returned from seven weeks out with a calf injury to help inspire West Ham’s 4-2 win over Brentford last night with Jarrod Bown scoring the first hat-trick of his career. 

The Brazilian’s importance to David Moyes’ side is shown by the fact that they have not won any of seven Premier League matches Paqueta has missed this season, while they have won 11 of the 19 games he has started.