LUCAS PAQUETA is expected to leave West Ham this week and return to Flamengo.
The Hammers are close to finalising a deal with the Brazilian club where Paqueta started his career.
West Ham rejected the most recent £36million offer due to payment terms, but talks have continued over the weekend and a verbal agreement has been struck for a similar fee.
The East Londoners are now awaiting the formal deal to be proposed and agreed.
Personal terms are thought to already be in place to take Paqueta, 28, back to Brazil.
The midfielder, signed from Lyon for £51m in 2022, has made it clear he wants to leave English football this month despite West Ham’s relegation battle.
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West Ham are currently five points from safety.
Initially the club wanted up to £50m for the playmaker, who was cleared of spot-fixing allegations last summer.
The FA investigation, which opened more than two years ago, scuppered an £85m move to Manchester City in 2023.
Manager Nuno Espirito Santo said on Saturday that he expected to see Paqueta play for the club again but that the situation needed resolving.
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Paqueta has not played in West Ham’s last three games and they have won all three in his absence.
Flamengo president Luiz Eduardo Baptista has also confirmed that a deal is close.
Baptista said: “What I can say is that we are close.
“We reached an agreement on several aspects, which I consider the most important. Today, the difference is the payment method we will use.”
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