Charles Watts says Lucas Paqueta’s camp believes Arsenal will try to sign him

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Goal journalist Charles Watts has claimed that people around Lyon star Lucas Paqueta believe Arsenal will try to sign him in the coming weeks.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with a move for the Brazil international over the last few days. Reports revealed this week that Mikel Arteta likes the player and has even given his approval to bring him in.

Paqueta has always been a player to keep an eye on. His time at AC Milan was an underwhelming one, but since he made the move to Lyon in 2020, he has been incredible.

The 24-year-old scored 11 goals and provided seven assists for the French side last season, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s snapped up by a bigger club.

• ‘Arsenal feel confident’: Edu thinks ‘amazing’ target will agree move; club accept he wants exit – journalist

Charles Watts: Lucas Paqueta’s camp believes Arsenal will try to sign him

In a video on his YouTube channel this week, Watts claimed: “There has not been a bid made yet by Arsenal for Paqueta. People close to the player believe that a bid will arrive from Arsenal for him.

“Apparently, Lyon are asking for around €80 million (£68m).

“Edu is in contact with the representatives and sounding out what it might take to get him out of Lyon. So we’ll wait and see how that one progresses at the moment.

“But certainly, the word from Brazil is that Arsenal are kind of lining up an offer and will make their interest firm at some point during the transfer window.”

• ‘Very possible’: Arsenal really could sign ‘amazing’ star, Edu’s talking to him right now – journalist

TBR View:

Arsenal are in the market for a new central midfielder, and the reported interest in Paqueta suggests that Mikel Arteta could be thinking of changing his system.

The Gunners have mostly employed the 4-2-3-1 formation, with Martin Odegaard playing in the number 10 role. The Norwegian is the undisputed starter in that position, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon.

The only way Arsenal could fit in both Odegaard and someone like Paqueta is if Arteta decides to emulate his mentor, Pep Guardiola, and shift to a 4-3-3 next season.

That wouldn’t be a bad idea at all, especially in games where Arsenal will dominate possession.

• Report: Arsenal have just told ‘extraordinary’ £67.5m star they will bid for him this summer