West Ham are set to assess the transfer market to find a replacement for Lucas Paqueta ahead of a potential long-term ban for suspicious betting activity.
Mick Brown, who worked as a senior scout at the London Stadium until leaving last June and remains very well-connected there, exclusively told Football Insider that replacing the 27-year-old will be part of the plans this summer.
This comes as Paqueta’s FA hearing is expected to take place this month as he has been accused of picking up four bookings for the purpose of financial gain.
There have been suggestions he faces a huge ban, with even the brutal possibility of a life ban from football mooted.
Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson told Football Insider on 26 February that the allegations have created a “big problem” for Paqueta and West Ham.
As a result, West Ham have started to put plans in place to identify potential replacements for Paqueta – something Brown insists will prove difficult.
However, complications surrounding the exit of Tim Steidten and appointment of Kyle Macaulay have disrupted the Hammers’ transfer plans.
Macaulay, a close ally of Graham Potter who has been appointed as West Ham’s Head of Recruitment, is now working to identify targets behind the scenes ahead of the summer window.
West Ham move to sign Lucas Paqueta replacement after Tim Steidten exit
Brown told Football Insider in October that West Ham are looking to replace Paqueta amid the threat of a “lifetime ban” from football.
The former scout, who has a wealth of experience in top-level player recruitment after over a decade at Man United during their most successful period, insisted that their plans have been disrupted by Steidten’s departure at Macaulay’s arrival.
“I think their transfer business has been disrupted,” he told Football Insider.
“I haven’t had much faith in their recruitment department in recent times.
“Tim Steidten thought he was the answer to everybody’s prayers, which he certainly wasn’t.
“But he’s gone now, which is good news long-term I believe but in the short-term it interferes with their plans and potential targets he had identified.
“They’ve had Kyle Macaulay come in now, he’s close to Potter and has worked with him before.
“But he’s still getting his feet under the table which can sometimes take a little while – although I don’t doubt he’ll be working hard behind the scenes.
“Players like Paqueta come around once in a blue moon.
“It’s tough to find replacements for players like that at the best of times, but when things aren’t going smoothly in the background, it makes things even more difficult.
“But he’s got this hearing coming up now and there are obviously concerns about that outcome.
“They’ll have to start looking for replacements just in case the worst should happen and I think that will be a part of their plans before the summer.
“Those plans may already be in place, but they’ve been interrupted by Steidten’s exit.”
Graham Potter targeting deal to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Alongside the addition of a midfielder to replace Paqueta, the Hammers are planning to strengthen their defence, which has been a long-term aim at the London Stadium.
The club spent £40million on the addition of Max Kilman from Wolves last summer, but have not been satisfied by the performance of their defensive unit.
Football Insider revealed on 4 March that West Ham want to sign Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton following their relegation from the Premier League.
The 23-year-old, who made his England debut this season, is keen to remain in the Premier League and is now on the radar of both West Ham and Crystal Palace.
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£15 million summer capture is ‘on’ | Report
Completing West Ham’s defensive line-up will be a big relief to all:
The reliance upon makeshift full backs such as Vlad Coufal, whilst showing ingenuity is hardly the stuff of Premier League success.
The Hammers have operated with just three full backs since Julen Lopetegui decided to exile Nayef Aguerd on a season-long loan with no recall option in August 2024.
So the reports that West Ham are planning a ‘swoop’ (why that word, I wonder?) for Taylor Harwood-Bellis in the summer of 2025 is welcome news indeed.
Even more welcome is the reported stance of the player who is said today to be prioritising his own career should Southampton get relegated as is likely: footballinsider247 suggest the England centre-back will listen to offers from both West Ham and Crystal Palace come the summer with his desire to remain in New England manager Thomas Tuchel’s thinking.
Graham Potter will have to decide whether to keep Nayef Aguerd when his season long loan in Spain finishes, so the chances are no decision will be made early in the Summer whilst the Hammers coaching team assess their options, with spending ‘zero’, of course, an attractive option.
If they do decide to offload Aguerd or Mavropanos, Harwood-Bellis who is well used to working in a defensive trio would fit straight into Potter’s favoured defence formation, and at a rumoured £15 million would be well within West Ham’s budget.
If the Hammers do end up bringing him east for that sort of price then that, frankly, would be a steal.
