West Ham are already searching for a replacement for their left winger, according to Football Insider.
The Brazilian was charged by the FA for alleged betting offences back in May of this year, almost a year after the governing body had announced they had opened an investigation into alleged spot-fixing allegations.
It is alleged that Paqueta had deliberately got himself booked on at least four occasions to help influence betting markets in his native Brazil, and a report by Footboom last week claimed the FA is seeking to impose a lifetime ban on the midfielder if he’s found guilty.
A life-time ban might seem harsh but it’s important to remember that there are differences between Paqueta’s case and those linked to the likes of Ivan Toney or Sandro Tonali, who have both received lengthy bans for breaching betting rules but did so without seeking to influence the outcome of games.
The act of deliberately picking up a yellow card is seen as directly influencing the outcome of a game, and therefore can be punishable by up to a life ban from the sport.
Meanwhile, West Ham are reportedly planning for the worst case scenario a lifetime ban for Paqueta would bring by scouting the market for viable alternatives.
The 27-year-old is a hugely influential member of Julen Lopetegui‘s team and his permanent absence would represent a huge hole in the Spaniard’s plans for how he wants his new team to play.
There is no indication of who West Ham might be looking to sign specifically at this stage, but it makes you wonder if they might already have someone closer to home they could call upon.
That player is Carlos Soler, who is at the club on loan from PSG this season. According to the tactics experts on The West Ham Breakdown podcast, the Spaniard has the talent and the skillset to be a like-for-like alternative to Paqueta, judging by the performance his put in in claret and blue so far this season.
Whatever happens, West Ham will want to get this decision right straight away. Paqueta has been a hugely important member of this West Ham for the past two seasons, making 93 appearances, scoring 15 goals and laying on a further 14 assists.
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