Lucas Paqueta 'on Newcastle's radar' but price tag leaves transfer in doubt

Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta is reportedly keen to leave the French club this summer amid links with Newcastle United.

The former AC Milan midfielder, who signed for Lyon two years ago and was part of Brazil's squad for their 2019 Copa America triumph, is close friends with Newcastle's January signing Bruno Guimaraes, which could boost the Magpies' hopes of signing the Brazilian international.

As published by Chronicle Live, French news outlet L'Equipe has this week claimed that Paqueta hopes to leave Lyon this summer, with his current club failing to qualify for any of Europe's three club competitions ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

However, the transfer fee may put clubs off making a move to sign the former Milan midfielder.

Back in January, Lyon's outspoken president Jean-Michel Aulas reported that the French club would require €80m (£68m) to part company with Paqueta this summer, a figure that would smash the £40m the Magpies paid for Guimaraes only five months ago.

That fee would become the most expensive sale from a Ligue 1 club to a Premier League team, with Arsenal signing Nicolas Pepe from Lille for £72m in August 2019 currently the record.

Paqueta made 44 appearances for Lyon last season in all competitions, with 35 outings in Ligue 1 and nine in the Europe League as Lyon reached the Round of 16 before being knocked out by West Ham.

In his appearances, Paqueta scored 11 goals in all competitions, including nine in France's top flight. The attacking midfielder, who featured up front and out wide for Lyon, also provided seven assists last season, averaging a goal or assist every 182.4 minutes.

Newcastle have been heavily linked with a number of big-money signings this summer with the transfer window