West Ham star Lucas Paqueta has appeared to brutally snub transfer interest from Aston Villa with his celebration against Nottingham Forest.
Villa have made a late approach to sign Paqueta on loan with an obligation to buy for around £50m ahead of deadline day in the summer window.
But the 28-year-old Brazilian has indicated that he has no desire to swap West Ham for Villa after starting and scoring in his club’s 3-0 win at Forest on Sunday.
After slotting home an 88th-minute penalty, Paqueta mimicked picking up a phone and throwing it away before kissing the West Ham badge.
Paqueta, who mainly operates as an attacking midfielder, has made 124 appearances for West Ham since joining the club from Lyon in 2022.
Your ultimate guide to the football season
Metro’s football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it’s an open goal.
West Ham head coach Graham Potter was quizzed after the victory over Forest if Paqueta would remain at the London Stadium ahead of Monday’s 7pm transfer deadline and said: ‘Yes.
‘The noise has been around Lucas for a long time and the way he conducts himself is incredible.
‘He gave everything for the team again today and contributed with a goal and the win.’
Jarrod Bowen, West Ham’s captain, has told Hammers supporters to ‘not believe everything you read online’.
‘Some people didn’t think he’d turn up and play but he turned up and scored,’ Bowen said.
West Ham reject chance to sign Andre Onana
Meanwhile, West Ham have reportedly rejected the chance to sign Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
According to the Daily Mail, the Red Devils offered West Ham the opportunity to take Onana on loan but they felt he was no better than their current goalkeeping options.
Onana was dropped from United’s XI after their shocking Carabao Cup exit to Grimsby Town on Wednesday with Altay Bayindir taking his spot for the 3-2 win over Burnley on Saturday.
West Ham interested in deal to sign Fabio Vieira
However, the Hammers are interested in a deal to sign Arsenal flop Fabio Vieira before Monday’s deadline, according to reports.
Football transfer expert Florian Plettenberg has posted on X that West Ham have ‘entered the race’ for Vieira along with two German sides.
Vieira has largely struggled at Arsenal since he joined the club from Porto in a £34m deal back in 2022.
