Predicted: Graham Potter makes major Lucas Paqueta decision for Man United after claim he’s played last West Ham game..
There may be little but saving face to fight for when West Ham play Manchester United, but off the pitch Lucas Paqueta is fighting to save his career.
West Ham and Manchester United are among the biggest underachievers in all of Europe’s top leagues.
The Hammers and Red Devils have been nothing short of pathetic in the Premier League this season.
Only the dotted line separates 17th placed West Ham and the relegation zone after a £155m summer spend.
The once mighty Man United have not fared much better, sitting two places and two points above Graham Potter’s side.
Man United vs West Ham not meaningless for Lucas Paqueta
Ruben Amorim – who held talks with West Ham chief David Sullivan about replacing David Moyes this time last year – has failed to get Manchester United firing.
But he has led them to the Europa League final, where they will face the Hammers’ bitter rivals Spurs.
With that in mind West Ham’s visit to Old Trafford threatens to take on a pre-season friendly feel.
Man United could be without and rest as many as 12 players for the Hammers.
Potter is struggling to convince West Ham fans he is the right man to turn things around after a dismal 18 months in east London.
West Ham have won just three of their 16 games under Potter.
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
But it is a malaise which can be charted all the way back to January 2024 and has seen the east Londoners win just 13 of their 54 Premier League matches in that time.
There is little but pride to play for at Old Trafford. Although West Ham can go above the Red Devils with a win over what’s likely to be a second string side.
Although that made little difference for Potter when the Hammers faced a much-changed Spurs last weekend.
While the game means little in the context of the season, for Lucas Paqueta it could be one of three of the last professional football matches he ever plays.
The FA are pushing to have West Ham’s Brazilian magnifico banned for life in the spot-fixing trial that was first initiated all the way back in 2023 but will finally conclude this month.
Journalist claimed Paqueta may have played last West Ham game
Now Potter has made a major Paqueta decision for Man United after a claim he’s played last West Ham game.
With the Hammers needing to sell to raise funds due to PSR this summer, it is one of the worst kept secrets in football that they will offload their £51m record signing Paqueta if he beats the spot-fixing charges.
And obviously, if he doesn’t, then he will face a lifetime ban.
So, either way, games against Man United, Forest and Ipswich will be his last for West Ham – but could be the Brazil international’s last ever as a professional player, at the age of just 27.
It’s a sorry situation and sad scenes unfolded last weekend when Paqueta burst into tears in the game against Spurs after being booked.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Potter makes major Paqueta decision for Man United
He was withdrawn a few minutes later by Potter.
Since then a leading journalist has claimed Paqueta could now be left out of West Ham’s remaining games due to concerns over his mental state.
Given the reasons stated, that would mean he has already played his last Hammers game.
Old Trafford is a fitting stage for a player of Paqueta’s undoubted talent on his day.
Potter and West Ham could risk criticism by playing Paqueta given the scenes last week.
But Hammers News believes Potter has decided Paqueta will play against Manchester United.
Speaking after the Spurs game both the manager and captain Jarrod Bowen declared Paqueta was ‘fine’ in the changing room.
Hammers News understands the £150k per week star has been his usual happy self in training this week and has, importantly, trained all week.
So Potter looks set to name him in the side for the clash with Amorim’s Europa League finalists.
In fact we think Potter will name an unchanged team from the Spurs game after stating he was largely happy with what he saw from his side.
That means Niclas Fullkrug will retain his place up front alongside Bowen and Mohammed Kudus – who have looked more effective as a front three away from home.
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