By admin 
According to sources who spoke to Football Insider, West Ham is looking more closely for Lucas Paqueta’s replacement in case the Brazilian is handed a lifetime ban from the game.
This is in response to reports indicating that, should he be found guilty of any unlawful betting operations, the FA would like to place a lifelong ban on him.
The case against the 27-year-old has been dragging on since August 2023, according to sources, so the Hammers are already preparing for the worst-case scenario.
The offensive midfielder Paqueta was “intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the purpose of affecting the betting market,” according to the FA, who charged him with misconduct in May.
The Brazilian is still an essential member of Julen Lopetegui’s starting lineup, thus worries about the potential consequences of a ban have been voiced.
Because of this, the London Stadium’s recruitment team has already started making plans to sign possible successors in the event that he is given a protracted suspension.
After an FA accusation, West Ham is preparing a replacement deal for Lucas Paqueta.
Following his 2022 transfer from Olympique Lyon to the Hammers, Paqueta has become one of the team’s most vital players.
He has played 93 games for West Ham so far, making 15 goals and dishing out 14 assists. This season, he has scored two goals.
Paqueta has participated in all nine of Lopetegui’s managerial appearances at the London Stadium, starting six of the seven Premier League games.
The offensive midfielder, who has 52 caps for his nation, is a mainstay in the Brazil national team and was called up by Dorival Jr. earlier this year.
Losing someone who has grown to be a vital member of their teams would have devastating effects on both club and country should there be a potential lifetime ban from football.
Because of this, the Hammers are planning for the worse and are thinking about joining the transfer market to find a replacement.
West Ham
Football Insider was previously informed by football financial specialist Stefan Borson that the length of the investigation is understandable considering the potential severity of the punishment.
But because of how long the inquiry is taking, West Ham is in the dark and has to be ready for everything that could happen.
A West Ham star has apologized to players for savaging them, according to other news.