Tottenham could sign Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta because they can offer him Champions League, according to journalist Jacque Talbot.
Antonio Conte is on the verge of securing his sixth summer arrival in right wing-back Djed Spence, but the Spurs boss is still hoping to complete further business, with the Brazilian on his list.
What’s the latest news involving Paqueta?
According to Football.London, sporting director Fabio Paratici ‘holds an interest’ in the 24-year-old, whose outstanding form since joining Lyon two years ago has allowed him to win 33 caps for Brazil.
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But competition is stiff for Paqueta’s signature, with Woolwich and Newcastle both in the race for the creative midfielder.
Paqueta has caught the eye following two impressive seasons in France, but after Lyon failed to qualify for the Champions League, he has expressed his desire to leave the club.
As per Ben Jacobs, Lyon have accepted that Paqueta wants to seek pastures new and won’t stand in the way of his wishes, providing someone gets close to meeting their £55m (€65m) asking price.
And Talbot reckons Spurs being back in Europe’s elite competition could see them edge out their north London rivals, especially after missing out on Gabriel Jesus earlier this summer.
What did Talbot say about Paqueta?
He told GIVEMESPORT: “They missed out on Jesus, who went to Woolwich, so there’s that aspect of it as well. I think Spurs is very possible for Paqueta, especially because they’re in the Champions League as well, so that’s a very, very possible one.”
How did Paqueta perform last season?
Despite Lyon enduring their worst Ligue 1 campaign for more than 25 years after they finished eighth and missed out on qualifying for Europe, the midfielder enjoyed a fine season on a personal level.
Beyond Tete, who joined in January and therefore only started seven games, Paqueta was the club’s best performer, according to WhoScored.
He managed nine top-flight goals, bettered only by Moussa Dembele and Karl Toko-Ekambi, which was an impressive return for an attacking midfielder, while no one else in the Lyon squad managed more than his six assists.
Paqueta was also in the top six players for most shots, key passes and dribbles per game, proving that he’s a classy operator when it comes to final third output.
He had a similar record in his first season in France, scoring nine goals and laying on a further six assists, which means he’s already shown he can consistently perform at the top level over a long period of time.