DEAL CONFIRMED:West Ham has signed a Spanish midfielder who is better than Declan Rice in all aspects

DEAL CONFIRMED:West Ham has signed a Spanish midfielder who is better than Declan Rice in all aspects

David Moyes should look to build around the Brazilian, who has an instrumental role to play for the Hammers post-Rice

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By Malik Ouzia@MalikOuzia_
41 minutes ago
I
t is quite the stretch to claim a lad born on the tiny Paqueta Island in Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay as one of east London’s own.

But as this ultimately historic season has worn on, that is the level of affection with which West Ham supporters have come to view the eponymous son of a land mass not even half-a-square-mile in size, an auto-free zone where the only modes of transport are pedal bikes and horse-drawn carriages.

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West Ham must replace Declan Rice but pivotal Lucas Paqueta can lead new era
David Moyes should look to build around the Brazilian, who has an instrumental role to play for the Hammers post-Rice

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By Malik Ouzia@MalikOuzia_
41 minutes ago
I
t is quite the stretch to claim a lad born on the tiny Paqueta Island in Rio de Janeiro’s Guanabara Bay as one of east London’s own.

But as this ultimately historic season has worn on, that is the level of affection with which West Ham supporters have come to view the eponymous son of a land mass not even half-a-square-mile in size, an auto-free zone where the only modes of transport are pedal bikes and horse-drawn carriages.

Note the wonderful irony in the most popular Hammers banner on display at the Eden Arena in Prague this week, which, riffing off the catchy television advert, declared ‘Just sold my car, to Lucas Paqueta’. Back home, he would not have much use for it.

There again, after his moment of magic on Wednesday night, there would be plenty of Hammers fans quite happy to hand their entire estates over to Paqueta for nothing, his sensational pass sending Jarrod Bowen through in the 90th minute to score perhaps the club’s most celebrated goal in 43 years.

The assist was a thing of beauty, the pass itself of laser-like precision and sublime weight, but made all the more impressive by the tiniest of windows for execution, the ball breaking unexpectedly after a ricochet off Sofyan Amrabat, Paqueta taking one touch and then the crucial glance up to spot Bowen’s dart before playing his second, the killer ball. A fraction of a second later, and either the winger would have strayed offside or Rolando Mandragora would have got a foot in on the provider first. Most likely, both.

Paqueta is not merely the only player in this West Ham team who could have created a goal in such fashion, but probably the first in any since Dimitri Payet.

The 25-year-old was not a player on West Ham’s radar this time last year, as David Moyes planned the squad rebuild that he hoped would not only elevate the club’s League position but also their style of play. There had been bigger sides in for the Brazilian, and the Hammers thought him to be beyond their reach until, eventually, he fell into their lap, albeit for a club-record fee which could rise to £51million with add-ons.

A tenacious, gutsy player, Paqueta was soon a case study in disproving the lazy assumption that adapting to English football is simply a question of physicality and spirit, the new arrival not lacking for either — nor quality — but still struggling to settle.

In the past three months in particular, though, and with Declan Rice on the brink of departure, he has come to look like a player the club ought to build their midfield around.

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Arsenal: £33m star now wanted in ‘shock Declan Rice swap deal’ at the Emirates

The Arsenal player West Ham reportedly want to be involved in any Declan Rice deal

West Ham’s Declan Rice is set to snub Manchester United and Bayern Munich in favour of Arsenal in a transfer that could see a player go in the opposite direction, according to fresh reports.

The 24-year-old West Ham captain has been linked to various world-class clubs over the past year due to his consistent performances in a Hammers shirt. It was reported by The Sun yesterday that the West Ham board would only entertain bids worth a British-record of £110million if they were to sell the midfielder.

Rice has reportedly got ‘his heart set on a transfer to Arsenal’, according to The Sun, but David Moyes would prefer Emile Smith Rowe to come in the other direction in a shock swap deal for the talented midfielder, which would see the requested £110m fee reduced.

Rice has reportedly got ‘his heart set on a transfer to Arsenal’, according to The Sun, but David Moyes would prefer Emile Smith Rowe to come in the other direction in a shock swap deal for the talented midfielder, which would see the requested £110m fee reduced.

As per Transfermarkt, Smith Rowe is currently valued at £33m.

Declan Rice’s future

According to The Sun, an insider told them: “West Ham know they are in a strong position with this deal which is why targeting a talent like Emile Smith Rowe has become part of the conversation at the club.

“Nobody can replace Declan Rice, but David Moyes is a big fan of Smith Rowe and thinks he could really help the team as they rebuild and plan for life after Declan Rice.

“For a long period Smith Rowe was one of Arsenal’s best players, but he has fallen down the pecking order a little bit. He won’t be a starter next season, but Arsenal aren’t keen to lose the player.

“However, if it means getting Rice and keeping him away from Bayern Munich and Manchester United, it could ultimately end up being a road they are forced to go down. Rice is their main summer target.”

A historic week for West Ham United

It has been a bitter-sweet last couple of days for West Ham fans.