---
title: "Arsenal: Ben Jacobs shares ‘interesting’ Lucas Paqueta update"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-lucas-paqueta-youri-tielemans-transfer-gossip-news-updates-2/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Daniel Clubbe"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2022-07-31T18:09:15Z"
modified: "2022-07-31T18:09:15Z"
---

# Arsenal: Ben Jacobs shares ‘interesting’ Lucas Paqueta update

**Football journalist Ben Jacobs has provided an update on the situation surrounding reported [Arsenal](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fc-news/) transfer target Lucas Paqueta.**

### The lowdown: Arsenal interested in Paqueta

The Gunners have been [heavily linked](https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/futebol/ultimas-noticias/2022/07/12/paqueta-lyon-mercado-da-bola.htm) with a move for the Lyon attacking midfielder in recent weeks, with [reports](https://www.footmercato.net/a4412011259740596066-arsenal-ne-lache-pas-lucas-paqueta) out of France confirming that technical director Edu is a huge fan of the 24-year-old.

Having [asked to leave](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2022/lucas-paqueta-has-asked-to-leave-lyon/) the Ligue 1 club earlier in the window, the Brazil international – who was signed for €35m (£29m) from AC Milan in 2019 ([ESPN](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3742998/ac-milan-sign-lucas-paqueta-from-flamengo-for-35m)) – has also been courted by [Tottenham](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tottenham-hotspur-news/tottenham-hotspurs-spurs-lucas-paqueta-lyon-conte-arsenal-man-city-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/), [Everton](https://www.calciomercato.com/news/lione-due-squadre-su-paqueta-32830) and [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) champions [Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-transfer-rumours/man-city-news-lyon-paqueta-talks-mcfc-latest/).

One well-informed onlooker has now shed some light on the current state of play as Arsenal vie for the capture of Paqueta…

### The latest: ‘Interesting one’

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/88040073-arsenal-edu-has-explored-55m-move-with-agent-at-the-emirates), Jacobs – a journalist for [CBS Sports](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor) – has claimed that the north Londoners ‘admire’ the [33-cap](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-paqueta/nationalmannschaft/spieler/444523/verein_id/3439) Brazil star but are currently no further along in making a deal happen.

He said: “Paqueta’s still an interesting one; Arsenal’s interest is real. They admire the player, but they haven’t really moved.

“They’ve never placed an offer, so when Jean-Michel Aulas spoke of lots of offers, I think I was one of the first to report that Arsenal and Newcastle were not teams that had ever gone to Lyon, they’d simply explored the option with the agent.”

### The verdict: Go all-out

Available for a [mooted £55m](https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1547291580951838721?s=20&t=qZlamE_EeWzXABgT3x6RGg) this summer and earning a mooted £49,000 per week at present ([Salary Sport](https://salarysport.com/football/player/lucas-paquet%C3%A1/)), signing Paqueta to bolster the attacking options at Mikel Arteta’s disposal would be an expensive venture for the Gunners.

However, boasting a variety of [outstanding attacking attributes](https://www.whoscored.com/Players/319756/Show/Lucas-Paquet%C3%A1) and hailed as a [‘magician’](https://twitter.com/OL_English/status/1486035551220342785) by Lyon’s official Twitter channel, the balletic Brazilian would be a wholly worthwhile addition to the Emirates Stadium ranks.

Predominantly operating as an attacking midfielder, Paqueta scored [10 times and provided seven assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-paqueta/leistungsdaten/spieler/444523/plus/0?saison=2021) in 42 appearances across all competitions last term, earning a 7.13 [Sofascore](https://www.sofascore.com/player/lucas-paqueta/839981) rating whilst winning 7.3 duels, completing 2.3 dribbles and making 1.2 key passes per top-flight outing in the process.

That form, age category and need for further reinforcements in N5 amidst links to [Jarrod Bowen](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fc-news/arsenal-jarrod-bowen-cody-gakpo-transfer-gossip-news-updates/) and [Youri Tielemans](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fc-news/arsenal-premier-league-youri-tielemans-transfer-news-updates/) make the cultured ace a potentially superb prospective capture for Arsenal, and one that Edu should be pushing to get over the line.