Alan Pardew still fears West Ham may suffer a 'massive blow' with Lucas Paqueta

Alan Pardew will be delighted by the news coming out of West Ham United about Lucas Paqueta, and not only because the Brazil international has been cleared to kick-start his Premier League career following a two-year spot-fixing trial.

A remarkable 24 months since the charges were brought against the Brazil international, when Paqueta was on the verge of joining Manchester City to the tune of £80 million, a drawn-out saga finally came to a long overdue conclusion.

The former AC Milan, Lyon and Flamengo playmaker was exonerated at last as the verdict was revealed on Thursday afternoon.

No wonder Lucas Paqueta was relieved. After all, the Football Association would have pursued a lifetime ban if he was found guilty.

Not only is the 27-year-old now free to move on from a traumatic period of seemingly never-ending uncertainty, Hammers News have been informed that Paqueta is open to staying at West Ham. He feels a huge amount of appreciation due to the support shown in him by Graham Potter and co at the London Stadium, and could look to reward that faith.

And Alan Pardew, one of Potter’s West Ham United predecessors, feels that retaining Paqueta could be as integral – if not more so – than any new signing the club pull off between now and the start of September.

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Alan Pardew hopes ‘magic’ Lucas Paqueta stays at West Ham United

Back in May, Pardew claimed that Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta would be key if Graham Potter was to make a success of his time in East London.

Three months on, Kudus is gone.

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Paqueta may still follow – Hammers News understands that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City remain keen while West Ham may opt to cash in – but the scales may now be tipping towards a prolonged stay in claret and blue.

“I think the key challenge is Paqueta. What is he going to do? Is he going to stay?,” Pardew wonders, speaking to talkSPORT. “Offensively, he is such an asset to West Ham. He’s a player who can produce a magic moment.

“For the fanbase, it would be a massive blow for him to go.”

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Pardew concerned about transfers as West Ham beat Everton in the USA

Lucas Paqueta scored and assisted against Everton as West Ham came from behind to beat David Moyes’ Toffees outfit 2-1 in Chicago on Wednesday.

He pounced on a horror Mark Travers blunder to cancel out Idrissa Gana Gueye’s opener, before turning provider as Niclas Fullkrug arrowed a ‘ridiculous’ finish into the Everton net just past the hour mark.

The mood in the camp feels positive, too. At least, a more so than during much of a miserable 2024/25 campaign.

Pardew feels that further additions will be required if they are to improve on a 14th place finish though.

So far, West Ham have signed only El Hadji Malick Diouf and Kyle Walker-Peters. Former Newcastle striker Callum Wilson should join on a free transfer soon.

West Ham cannot sign Harvey Elliott or Mateus Fernandes, to name but two, without making further sales, although a new goalkeeper is expected with Leicester City glovesman Mads Hermansen in pole position.

“I think with the way Potter manages, what he wants to create at West Ham, he has a big challenge on his hands there,” adds Pardew, who led the club to a ninth-place finish and the FA Cup final back in 2006.

“It’s not looking great at West Ham with the transfer window, with what they’ve done [so far].”

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