Ian Darke has tipped West Ham United to turn to Nottingham Forest gem Morgan Gibbs-White as a replacement for Lucas Paqueta.
The ESPN commentator singled out an ideal transfer target for each Premier League team.
Paqueta’s future at London Stadium is uncertain for multiple reasons as he has been linked with the exit but is also facing a lengthy ban.
The Brazil international has been accused of breaching FA rules with regards to betting, with fears he could be severely punished.
If that is the case, Darke reckons Gibbs-White is the player West Ham should be looking to sign as an alternative in that position.
“With Lucas Paqueta’s future in doubt after he was charged with betting rule breaches, the Hammers need a new playmaker,” Darke wrote.
Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White would not come cheap, but would be ideal to pick the locks at the No. 10 position.”
Lucas Paqueta FA ban uncertainty
Depending on what information you take in, Paqueta is either facing a lifetime ban from football or is going to avoid any sort of severe punishment.
The case appears to be more complex than first thought, and it may well be that this drags on for a little while longer yet.
All the while, West Ham are left wondering if they will have a player effectively valued close to £100million available to call upon come August.
It looked for all the world as though Paqueta would leave for Manchester City this summer, but that is now almost certainly not going to happen.
And due to those funds not coming in, United cannot just go out and snap up Gibbs-White – a very good player – from a rival club.
If money was not a problem, of course this would be a move that makes total sense. Instead, though, it is more likely the club will be more cautious with their purchases.
As for Paqueta, the sooner that situation is resolved, the better for everyone involved.
