"Player Arteta really wants" – Journalist drops exciting Arsenal transfer claim on 33-cap star

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is desperate to sign Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta, according to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs.

The Spaniard has already made four signings this window, including Fabio Vieira, but the Gunners manager is still hoping to make further midfielder additions.

According to Goal, Arsenal are interested in signing the 33-cap Brazil international, although the report suggests the north Londoners will have to break the bank to bring Paqueta to the Emirates.

Despite technical director Edu ‘informing the player’s staff’ that Arsenal want to make a proposal for his services, Lyon are reportedly asking for €80m (£67m) for the 25-year-old’s services.

Should Arsenal meet the French club’s asking price, it would see them come close to the record fee they paid Lille for Nicolas Pepe (£72m) back in 2019.

But Jacobs believes that while Newcastle are also in the running for Paqueta’s signature, he’s a player that Arteta is keen on bringing to the Premier League.

He told GIVEMESPORT: “Paqueta is a player Arteta really wants, though. It won’t be an easy negotiation with Lyon and Newcastle have enquired, too.

“Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is going to hold out for at least 55 million and even asked for closer to 70 million back in January.”

Beyond Tete, who made just nine top-flight appearances following his January arrival, Paqueta was rated as Lyon’s best player last season, according to WhoScored.

Helped by an impressive nine Ligue 1 goals and six assists from midfield, his 7.24 rating was also boosted his four man of the match awards, which was the most in the squad.

Paqueta might have had one of the worst success rates when it came to passing (79.6 per cent), but his six assists was the most in the squad.

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