West Ham United attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta would not get into the Manchester City starting lineup.
That’s the opinion of former Tottenham Hotspur striker and talkSPORT pundit Darren Bent.
Bent has raved about Lucas Paqueta and has said that the West Ham United playmaker would get into the Manchester United starting lineup.
The pundit, though, does not think that Paqueta would play for Manchester City week in and week out.
Darren Bent on Lucas Paqueta, Manchester City and Manchester United
Bent said on talkSPORT: “I don’t think he’s too good (for West Ham), it’s hard to say he’s too good for them, there are obviously players out there that are too good.
“But I think for where West Ham are right now… like you wouldn’t go, ‘Right straightaway someone like Paqueta should be playing for City.’ Not yet, he doesn’t get in their starting XI.”
When asked if he would make it into United’s starting XI, Bent said: “Yeah. It would have to be him, Bruno [Fernandes] and Casemiro.”
Lucas Paqueta was linked with Manchester City transfer
Now, Darren Bent may think that Lucas Paqueta is not good enough for Manchester City, but Pep Guardiola certainly rates the Brazil international highly.
After all, the City manager tried to bring the £150,000-a-week (Spotrac) playmaker to the Etihad Stadium in the summer transfer window.
According to talkSPORT, the Citizens wanted to sign Paqueta in the summer of 2023.
City, who won the Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and the FA Cup last season, made a bid of £70 million.
The Brazilian wanted to move to the Etihad Stadium, but the Hammers did not want to sell him.
TalkSPORT reported that City subsequently dropped their interest in Paqueta after he “became the subject of an FA betting investigation”.
City signed Portugal international midfielder Matheus Nunes from Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers instead.
Paqueta has made 35 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career.
The playmaker has scored five goals and given four assists in those games.
