West Ham United are willing to sell Lucas Paquetá this month only if the deal includes a loan back for the rest of the season, a condition resisted by Flamengo. Flamengo have seen a €35m bid rejected and may raise it to €40m, but prefer to wait and buy more cheaply in the summer.
Paquetá wants to return to Brazil after a difficult spell in England following a spot-fixing investigation that ended last year but derailed a move to Manchester City. West Ham fear losing him could deepen their relegation battle, with the club currently seven points below 17th place.
Manager Nuno Espírito Santo has urged a quick resolution, while West Ham weigh the financial boost from a sale against the risk of weakening their squad during a critical phase of the season.
