WEST HAM FANS IN UNEXPLAINED OCCURENCE AS LUCAS TIPPED TO COMPLETE UNFORGIVABLE TRANSFER, WITH CLUB ‘LEADING THE WAY’

History shows that West Ham United have enough experience of losing star players, but a player’s departure often determines how they are perceived years later
This summer, Manchester City are expected to reignite their interest in Lucas Paqueta when his £85 million ($106
8 million) release clause comes into effect in June
Although the 26-year-old remains under investigation by the FA for alleged betting offences, his departure appears inevitable and how he goes will determine whether he survives
viewed favorably or not by its supporters
For example, before Declan Rice joined Arsenal in July for £105 million ($132 million), he was determined to help West Ham avoid relegation from the Premier League and win the UEFA Conference Trophy League as captain
He scored both goals and despite being booed by some fans in the 6-0 loss to Arsenal in February, he was applauded off the field for refusing to celebrate his goal
After West Ham, he still mentioned his love for the club and appreciated the support he received from manager David Moyes
Joe Cole is another who receives a warm welcome every time he returns to the London Stadium for a scan
He is the extraordinary talent that former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson tried to recruit when he was just 14 years old
He was appointed captain by Glenn Roeder at the age of 21 and joined Chelsea for £6
6m after West Ham were relegated in 2003
There was no bitter departure – just an acceptance that a player Having qualities like Cole deserves to challenge himself at a higher level
When he returned in January 2013, Cole was on his way home
Compare that with Jermain Defoe, who infamously submitted a transfer request the day after West Ham were relegated in 2003
‘Looking back now, I think maybe I was naive at the time’, Defoe told Sky Sports in 2020
“ As a young player, you should never ask to leave a football club and submit a transfer request
That’s a huge regret
Paul Ince began his career at West Ham, but was never forgiven for being photographed in a Manchester United shirt before his transfer was completed in 1989
When Ince returned to the Boleyn Ground in May 1994 with Manchester United aiming to win the Premier League, West Ham fans taunted him with banners bearing the word “Judas”
Dimitri Payet refused to train or play and went on strike before being forced to return to Marseille in 2017, while Marko Arnautovic submitted a transfer request in 2019 to force a move to Chinese Super side Shanghai Port League
Payet and Arnautovic are remembered for their performances on the field but their departure still leaves a bitter aftertaste
Paqueta doesn’t need to delve into West Ham’s history to know how he will perform in the coming weeks, but it is worth mentioning that the midfielder has no plans to be forced out this summer
He remained professional when the club reluctantly sold him to City last summer – after rejecting an opening offer of 70 million euros (£59
8 million; $75
1 million)
Paqueta is a player who can do extraordinary things, a talent that can flourish on big occasions and has turned into a diamond under Moyes
When in possession, Paqueta has a role in creating and executing risky passes, so it is natural that he sometimes loses control