---
title: "Newcastle: Magpies make Lucas Paqueta offer"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-make-lucas-paqueta-offer/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "David Comerford"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-12-20T13:45:43Z"
modified: "2021-12-20T13:45:43Z"
---

# Newcastle: Magpies make Lucas Paqueta offer

**Newcastle United have made an unsuccessful offer for Lyon’s Lucas Paqueta, according to French outlet [Foot Mercato](https://www.footmercato.net/a6891650629331133223-mercato-ol-lucas-paqueta-a-refuse-un-pont-dor-erige-par-newcastle).**

### The lowdown

The attacking midfielder only joined Lyon in September 2020, making an [£18m](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-paqueta/transfers/spieler/444523) switch from Serie A giants AC Milan.

His [£49,000-per-week](https://salarysport.com/football/ligue-1/olympique-lyonnais/) contract at the Groupama Stadium runs for another [three-and-a-half years](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-paqueta/profil/spieler/444523), while the 24-year-old has also racked up [28 caps](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-paqueta/nationalmannschaft/spieler/444523/verein_id/3439) for Brazil, having made his senior debut in September 2018.

### The latest

The report from [Foot Mercato](https://www.footmercato.net/a6891650629331133223-mercato-ol-lucas-paqueta-a-refuse-un-pont-dor-erige-par-newcastle) states that ‘leaders’ at Newcastle have identified Paqueta as a target ahead of the January transfer window. They are ‘ready to splurge’ to bring the Brazilian to Tyneside, offering him a lucrative salary of €860,000 (£734,000) per month, which equates to about £184,000 per week.

However, the player’s camp have rebuffed this proposal, making clear that the player would only be willing to leave Lyon if the suitor was a step-up in quality. He is reportedly content at the club, who have qualified for the Europa League round of 16 after winning their group.

### The verdict

Targeting a player of Paqueta’s calibre is an indication of Newcastle’s ambition. He has been directly involved in [11 goals](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/lucas-paqueta/leistungsdaten/spieler/444523) (scoring seven and setting up four) in 21 appearances this season and ranks as Lyon’s highest-performing player according to [WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/228/Show/France-Lyon) metrics.

BBC Sport’s Raj Chohan [thinks](https://twitter.com/rajsinghchohan/status/1470125182606098441) he’s good enough to be Roberto Firmino’s successor at Liverpool, while Lyon team-mate Karl Toko-Ekambi hailed him as a [‘soldier’](https://www.getfootballnewsfrance.com/2021/lyons-karl-toko-ekambi-on-lucas-paqueta-hes-a-soldier/) for his determination.

It doesn’t look like the Magpies will be able to convince him to swap Europa League football for a Premier League relegation battle at this stage, but maybe the situation will change if their prospects improve.

**In other news, [Noel Whelan reacts to a significant blow for Newcastle](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-news/jamal-lewis-injury-howe-noel-whelan/)**