here is still no indication about where the Football Association’s investigation into Lucas Paquetá’s alleged breach of betting regulations will end up. West Ham and the mercurial Brazilian remain in the dark. All they can do is wait patiently for news on whether Paquetá is going to be hit with a charge that would potentially end with him spending a long spell on the sidelines.
It was an eight-month ban for Ivan Toney when the FA found him guilty of betting on games. Paquetá, though, is in a different situation from the Brentford striker. The allegation against him relates to other people placing bets on the midfielder to receive yellow cards across various Premier League matches. Paquetá, whose hopes of completing an £85m move to Manchester City were quashed by the investigation coming to light last August, was said to have been shocked by the suggestion of any wrongdoing on his part.
It has had no adverse effect on his football. This is Paquetá’s second year at West Ham and it remains to be seen if there is going to be a third. There is every chance of City reviving their interest in the former Lyon player if his innocence has been established by the time the summer transfer window opens.
In that context West Ham need to make the most of Paquetá while he remains in claret and blue. They have to savour the flicks, tricks and assists. Paquetá, who became the club’s record buy when he joined from Lyon for £52m in 2022, will want to go if City come calling again.
For now, though, David Moyes does not have to think about life without his most influential player. For Moyes, a manager whose cautious reputation somewhat chafes against the freedom he has given to Paquetá, the focus is on West Ham’s latest European run. They are in Germany for the first leg of their last-16 tie against Freiburg in the Europa League and, after a fractious start to 2024, it is no coincidence that the mood has improved now Paquetá has recovered from a persistent calf injury.