Newcastle United do not view Lucas Paqueta as a realistic target in this summer’s transfer window, according to Liam Kennedy.
The reliable Toon reporter has been discussing the Magpies’ latest transfer news, including the Brazilian, on the NUFC Matters YouTube channel.
Paqueta is one of the names that have been linked with a possible move to Newcastle for a number of months now, however, there is believed interest from other Premier League clubs.
Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have both been credited with an interest in the Ligue 1 midfielder this summer – with the former reportedly having spoken to his camp.
And as the new Premier League campaign edges closer, Kennedy provided an insight on the Toon’s transfer plans regarding Paqueta.
He said: “I’ve been told on numerous occasions that Paqueta isn’t really on the agenda. It seems to be a fan thing.
“Look, if he becomes available, they do like him as a footballer. If he becomes available and the price can be done and other deals that they want to do prove impossible to do, then you will start getting to the stage where they’ll just do good deals.”
TIF Thoughts on Kennedy’s comments…
This will likely not be the news the majority of the fans on Tyneside will have been wanting to hear, with a severe lack of attacking options being brought in as it stands.
Do NUFC need Paqueta?
Yes
No
However, as the Magpies monitor the market, we will be interested to see whether this is a deal they potentially come back to later in the window, particularly as moves for the likes of Moussa Diaby have appear to have gone cold.
Reports from France now suggest Lyon would be willing to offload the Brazilian for a fee in the region of £34m, which may yet reignite Dan Ashworth’s interest.