A long term injury to Kevin De Bruyne has accelerated the likelihood of Lucas Paqueta moving to Manchester City, according to the bookmaker odds.
West Ham's star midfielder Lucas Paqueta has been given odds of 1/8 to join the treble winners Manchester City, following the news that Kevin De Bruyne could be sidelined for up to four months due to a hamstring injury.
Manchester City's head coach Pep Guardiola confirmed earlier today that De Bruyne's injury, sustained 23 minutes into their Premier League opener against Burnley last Friday, will keep him out for "three to four months".
With De Bruyne's absence, City are keenly eyeing potential replacements, with West Ham's Lucas Paqueta reportedly at the top of their list. It's worth noting that Paqueta only moved to West Ham from Lyon in last summer's transfer window.
Last week, a £70 million bid for Paqueta from Man City was turned down by West Ham. However, sources suggest City are gearing up to make an even more lucrative offer in the days to come.
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Man City Odds to Sign Paqueta
The probability of the Brazilian midfielder joining City has significantly increased, with the odds shifting from 4/7 last Friday to 1/8 this Monday. This implies an 88.9% likelihood of him transferring to Manchester during this window.
A potential transfer of Paqueta to Man City would signify a significant blow to West Ham, as it would mean the departure of their two premier midfielders this summer - Declan Rice recently completed his big money move to Arsenal.
However, West Ham have been active in the transfer market; they've successfully onboarded James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez this summer. Rumours also suggest they're eyeing Ajax’s Mohammed Kudus and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay for potential signings.
According to a recent poll in Oddschecker’s Million Pound Predictor game, a mere 23% of participants had forecasted West Ham to finish in the Premier League’s top half. That figure dwindled to 18% this week, likely influenced by the looming departure of Paqueta.
Oddschecker spokesperson Leon Blackman weighed in: “It's a tough period for West Ham fans. First, we saw Declan Rice's exit, and now Lucas Paqueta's potential departure looks more probable than ever. With Man City envisioning Paqueta as the long-term successor to Kevin De Bruyne, the urgency has certainly intensified considering De Bruyne's recent injury.
“The odds of 1/8 highlight the bookmakers' confidence in an approximate 90% chance of the Brazilian moving to Manchester. All signs indicate this deal might conclude sooner than anticipated.”
Lucas Paqueta Next Club Odds:
| Club | Odds |
|---|---|
| Man City | 1/8 |
| Stay at West Ham | 9/2 |
| PSG | 25/1 |
