Flamengo target, midfielder Lucas Paquetá was once again left out of West Ham’s list of related players. The player was absent from the match against Tottenham because continues to recover from a back injury. On social media, the player’s absence resonated with Flamengo fans, who expressed anxiety about his return to the club.
The team to take on Tottenham 🗞️ pic.twitter.com/cI0VrzUdhw
— West Ham United (@WestHam) January 17, 2026
Paquetá had already missed West Ham in two other recent matches, against Wolverhampton and Queens Park Rangers, both due to the same physical problem. On January 6, he played against Nottingham Forest, but felt pain in his lower back again and ended up being left out of further training.
What’s left for Lucas Paquetá to do with Flamengo?
While recovering from his injury, the player expressed his desire to return to Brazilian football and has already reached an agreement with Flamengo. Now, the Rio club is trying to move forward in negotiations with West Ham. The conversations are led by the red-and-black football director, José Boto, who is in direct contact with Hammers directors.
So far, Flamengo has only received an informal signal that the English club accepts to negotiate the athlete. The initially indicated value is around 40 million euros (around R$240 million), although no official proposal has been presented. With the confirmation that Paquetá would not face Tottenham, Flamengo fans once again demonstrated intensely on social media, demanding the player’s release.
Initially, West Ham set a price of 60 million euros (approximately R$375 million) to negotiate the midfielder. Flamengo admits investing up to 40 million euros (around R$250 million). People close to the negotiations say that the English can make the request more flexible, especially given the athlete’s desire not to continue in England.
The possible sale of Lucas Paquetá could also be advantageous for West Ham from a financial point of view. The club closely monitors the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which limit losses to up to £105 million over a three-season cycle. The teams needed to deliver their audited accounts to the league by the end of December, and are still awaiting final opinions.
According to the newspaper The i Paperall Premier League clubs must comply with PSR requirements in this first three-year period. Football finance expert Rob Wilson highlighted that the current scenario is less alarming, noting that recent punishments for Everton and Nottingham Forest have directly impacted the market’s stance.
Still, care remains essential. Wilson assesses that, added to UEFA’s financial rules, the requirements should reduce the number of negotiations in this January window, as English clubs have adopted a more conservative stance on investments.
MORE: Flamengo lineup today: starting team and absences for game against Volta Redonda
