Graham Potter gives update on Lucas Paqueta's future as betting charges dropped
West Ham boss Graham Potter believes Lucas Paqueta remains committed to the Hammers in the aftermath of his betting charges being cleared. The Brazilian midfielder was charged with allegedly breaching FA rule E5 in 2023.
He was accused of spot-fixing matches by getting booked. But he has since been proven innocent following a lengthy investigation.
During the process, the former Lyon midfielder was linked with a move away from the London Stadium - Brazilian side Flamengo having emerged as potential suitors for Paqueta. Asked about the 27-year-old's future, Potter did not rule a move out entirely but believes that the midfielder remains committed to West Ham.
He said: "You never know for sure because anything can happen in the window with anybody. But the news is incredibly positive. If it had gone the other way, there would have been a whole other line of questions.
"Lucas is happy and committed. He is an important person in dressing room and at the club and we love him. We just want to help him enjoy his football.
"You can imagine on a personal level for him, having to fight those allegations was an incredible challenge for him. It has been a really tough period in his life and career. It is a credit to him and his family and everyone who has supported him that he has come through."
Paqueta issued a statement in the aftermath of the FA's decision. He wrote: 'Since the first day of this investigation, I have maintained my innocence against these extremely serious accusations.
'I can't say anything more at this time, but I would like to express how grateful I am to God and how eager I am to return to playing football with a smile on my face. To my wife who never let go of my hand, to West Ham United, to the fans who always cheered me on, and to my family, friends and the legal team who have supported me – thank you for everything.'
Paqueta was signed from French side Lyon back in 2022 for a fee of around £51m. Since then, he has made 120 appearances for the London outfit, scoring 18 goals, while he also helped the Hammers win the Europa Conference League in 2023.
He still has two years remaining on his contract with West Ham with the option for a further year. Paqueta was strongly linked with a big-money move to Manchester City in 2023 but saw a move shelved.
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