Aston Villa manager Unai Emery’s words and true feelings about Lucas Paqueta’s transfer might be two different things. Emery had reportedly wanted to sign Paqueta from West Ham United, but the deal fell through. Despite this, Emery claims he’s “so, so happy” with Aston Villa’s current squad makeup.
The Missed Opportunity
Paqueta’s actions after scoring a penalty against Nottingham Forest suggested he was indeed set to join Aston Villa, as reported by Fabrizio Romano. However, Graham Potter’s comments later put those rumors to rest. Aston Villa did sign Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho on deadline day, but Paqueta remained with West Ham United ¹.
Paqueta’s Current Form
Paqueta has been in excellent form, scoring four goals in his last four matches for both club and country. He even earned a Goal of the Month nomination for his screamer against Chelsea. Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, a close friend of Paqueta’s, is thrilled to see him happy and performing well again after a tough period due to spot-fixing allegations ¹.
Possible Future Moves
There’s speculation about Paqueta’s future, with some interpreting his Instagram post as a hint that he’ll leave West Ham United at the end of the season. Paqueta wrote about staying loyal and mentioned “one more season” at the London Stadium, which has sparked debate among fans ².
Aston Villa’s Squad
Emery has emphasized building a strong team with the current squad, saying, “Now, we are trying to get everything with the idea to try and build a team as soon as possible with the new players.” He’s focused on adapting new players to the team’s structure and maintaining motivation ¹.
