'Deal was done' - Man City transfer that collapsed - could it happen now?

Manchester City had a 'deal done' for Lucas Paqueta in 2023, according to one of the player's representatives.

It was a strange transfer window for the Blues in the aftermath of winning the Treble, with a bid going in for Declan Rice before they opted not to match Arsenal's £105m. As they looked for a midfielder to fill the vacancy left by Ilkay Gundogan and the hole in the squad that Kalvin Phillips had not been able to fill, City settled on West Ham's Paqueta and a move for the player appeared to close until it emerged he was at the centre of a betting investigation by the FA.

That was enough to put City off and they turned instead to Matheus Nunes, paying Wolves £51m for the midfielder but struggling to get the best out of him. Nearly two years into his City career, the Portugal international has rarely been trusted to play in central midfield and is currently being used at right-back.

Former City player Barry Silkman has been representing footballers for decades and worked with Paqueta's agent on the deal to broker a move. He still regrets how it transpired, and how the investigation impacted on the player's form.

"The deal was done, but then this thing with the FA came up," he said on the Talking City podcast in an episode out on Friday. "When that fell through, I was absolutely gutted. I brought him into West Ham and I love him as a player.

"He had Man City written all over him. They must have had a scouting network in France but why they never bought him I don't know because it's not like he came into West Ham and all of a sudden improved. From the minute his feet touched the ground he was the same as he was in France.

"He was phenomenal and I kept thinking a major club had to come in for him. Then eventually when they did it happened at the wrong time and it's affected Lucas ever since. He's started playing the last few games like he did before and hopefully the situation he's got will disappear and I still think he would be a major addition for Manchester City now."

City have just bought Nico Gonzalez for £50m for Porto in their latest attempts to strengthen their midfield. With the rebuild set to continue in subsequent windows, Silkman still has hope for Paqueta and believes there are three players at West Ham that could have played at the Etihad if they had recruited differently.

"It's really strange because you look at a team like West Ham and they're alright yet they've got three players that I believe could walk into City's team. Not play for them - walk into the team.

"I look at Jarrod Bowen and think how did Man City not buy him? A wide player who plays exactly as Pep wants to play - knows when to come inside, knows when to go outside, delivers great crosses when he has to, scores some brilliant goals and some normal goals, ideal with a front player and for midfield players yet he's never been on City's radar and I find it incredibly strange.

"[Mohammed] Kudus is the same. I'm looking at Mo Salah leaving Liverpool and if they don't buy Kudus as a replacement the game is gone. He is brilliant. West Ham have three brilliant players and how City have overlooked them...for the first time, in the last two years I don't think the recruitment has been that good.

"I think they've bought players to be where they are in the league, if that makes sense. How many of those players that they've bought get into Arsenal and Liverpool's team? I think they overlooked Declan Rice as well, and I still think Paqueta is a level or two higher than what they've bought.

"He's amazing for front players, he's amazing for wide players. He creates so many chances for Kudus, Bowen. His link-up play is superb. He plays little 10- or 15-yard passes that releases midfield players that you don't even see until he's played it.

"He's got this amazing knack of playing the ball in space for a teammate. I think he's a wonderful midfielder who would make an amazing addition for Pep if all goes well this summer."

The Not So Secret Football Agent, the story of Barry Silkman's life, is out now and available to buy here.

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