Arsenal join Newcastle in race to sign Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta
According to reports, Arsenal will try to beat Newcastle United to the signing of Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta in the summer transfer window.
Despite his current contract not expiring until 2025, the 24-year-old is said to be available at the end of the season.
According to reports in The Chronicle, the Gunners will pursue the Brazilian after failing to sign his former teammate Bruno Guimaraes in January, who instead joined Newcastle.
Paqueta, who is also wanted by the Magpies, has established himself as a key player for Lyon since joining from AC Milan in 2020.
He has scored 19 goals in 74 appearances for the club, including seven in Ligue 1 this season.
Arsenal would be interested in an attacking midfielder who can score goals, as they have been lagging behind their rivals in terms of scoring this season, with only 45 goals in the league so far.
The Gunners paid £30 million for Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid last year, but with European qualification on the horizon, more incomings are needed.
The club’s reported interest in Leicester’s James Maddison, on the other hand, indicates that they want to keep their options open when it comes to new midfield signings.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed earlier this month that he wants to improve the squad even more after spending over £100 million last summer.
‘I am expecting it, yes,’ he said. I believe that both competitions (the Champions League and the Europa League) necessitate a much larger squad due to the increased number of games played in both, so I don’t believe that (which you qualify for) makes a significant difference or changes much.
‘If you ask me what I want, I want 22 outfield players and three goalkeepers if you can afford it and we don’t have to do the turnaround in the squad that we’ve had to do.’
Arsenal are three points behind Tottenham in fourth place, with a game in hand, and Champions League qualification could be crucial to the club’s summer transfer plans.
