Arsenal’s Techincal Director, Edu, has ruled out a move for Newcastle target, Lucas Paqueta, prying the door open that little bit more for the Magpies to swoop.
Paqueta has been linked with Newcastle ever since his former team-mate and best friend, Bruno Guimaraes signed for the club in January. Twitter lit up like the Times Square Christmas tree when Paqueta pulled on a Newcastle shirt for a kickabout in Bruno’s back garden when he was visiting.
As much as the links don’t seem to be going away, it does seem that they come more from fans’ wishes and media speculation than anything from the actual club itself. However, every so often we will get a nugget that suggests that maybe a move is in the offing. Especially now that our main rivals for his signature have distanced themselves from a move.
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Edu has been speaking to Brazilian outlet, TNT Sports (via The Chronicle) saying: “I’m very respectful when I talk about Lucas (Paqueta),” he said. “I’m a guy who likes him a lot. I’ve always liked him, since my time with Brazil’s national team.
“He’s had a great season; he was considered the best (foreign) player in the French league. But today, there really isn’t any kind of talk, there’s only my admiration for the player, because the squad today is, in the position he plays, very well-served in this regard.”
There have been recent, albeit unsubstantiated, claims that Newcastle have had a bid accepted for Paqueta by Lyon who are trying to reduce their debts before a takeover goes through, but the prospective new owners may try and block the sale. Many pinches of salt required for that one at the moment, but one to keep an eye on.
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