West Ham fear Paqueta betting investigation will scupper their transfer planning

West Ham are concerned that the FA’s betting probe into Lucas Paqueta could affect their transfer plans for a second successive summer, with his £85million release clause to become active at the end of the season.

Paqueta is still subject to an active FA investigation six months after the governing body began making inquiries into suspicious betting patterns surrounding three bookings last year, which led to the collapse of an £80m move to Manchester City that had been agreed by the clubs. A similar FA investigation into bets placed on a single booking received by Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka three years ago took 17 months to conclude without any action being taken.

City remain interested in signing Paqueta, who has shrugged off the controversy and injury problems to enjoy another excellent season for West Ham, with Pep Guardiola earmarking the 26-year-old as a potential replacement for Bernado Silva. The Portuguese midfield player will enter the final two years of his contract in the summer and City may listen to offers if he declines to sign an extension, amidst interest from Paris Saint Germain and several Saudi Pro League clubs.

West Ham have no wish to sell Paqueta who is under contract until 2027, but would like some clarity over the situation, particularly as there a £85m release clause in his contract can be triggered from this summer. The club are understood to be frustrated at the lack of information they have received from the FA, whose investigators interviewed Paqueta and analysed his phone records last October, but have not provided a recent update.

Paqueta is believed to have denied any wrongdoing after the FA opened an investigation into suspicious betting patterns on three of his bookings, which as Mail Sport