Lyon are willing to seriously consider offers around £55m for Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta amid significant interest from both Arsenal and Newcastle, according to reports.
As per CBS sports, despite earlier suggestions that it would take a fee of around 80m euros (£70m) for the Ligue 1 side to part ways with their talismanic figure, Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas is not thought to be set on holding out for the full fee, and will instead sell for a knock down fee.
Lyon will seriously consider offers for Lucas Paqueta for £55m (€65m). Jean-Michel Aulas will not hold out for the near £70 million price-tag he quoted in January. Lyon accept Paqueta wants to leave this window & won’t stand in his way if they receive a satisfactory offer.
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) July 13, 2022
The French club won’t stand in the 24-year-old’s way should that valuation be met, and of course there will be hope on the side of the interested parties that they could haggle that fee down below the £50m mark.
Who is interested?
From the Premier League, both Arsenal and Newcastle United have made their interest in the Brazilian clear, with the Magpies looking to repeat their Bruno Guimaraes coup from January and the Gunners keen to bolster their midfield ranks this summer.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma side are also thought to be keeping tabs on the midfielder, though whether they would be able to match the fee suggested is unclear.
BELO HORIZONTE, BRAZIL – AUGUST 29: Arrascaeta #10 of Cruzeiro struggles for the ball with Lucas Paquetá #11 of Flamengo during a match between Cruzeiro and Flamengo as part of Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2018 at Mineirao stadium on August 29, 2018 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. (Photo by Pedro Vilela/Getty Images)
No bids have been placed yet by any club, but from the player’s point of view, the Premier League is the ideal destination, with CBS reporting that ‘Paqueta is very open to EPL moves and wants a new challenge.’
