Manchester City plotting second bid for Premier League midfielder

The Premier League returns on Friday with reigning champions Manchester City travelling to face newly-promoted Burnley at Turf Moor. 

The Clarets – who have been back in training since prior to City’s Champions League final win over Inter Milan in June – will undoubtedly provide a tough test for Pep Guardiola’s side.

City will be expecting to begin the defence of their title with a win, though, especially following the arrivals of Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol in recent weeks.

Now, City are hoping to complete a third summer signing.

According to Football Insider, the Citizens are preparing a second offer for West Ham United midfielder Lucas Paqueta.

The report claims that the Manchester outfit had an opening bid of £70 million for the player rejected this week, and will now return with an improved proposal.

Paqueta remains a target for Manchester City

The Hammers paid around £35 million to sign the 25-year-old from French side Lyon last summer, and he impressed during his first season in England.

Paqueta made 41 appearances across all competitions last term, scoring five goals and providing seven assists.

Previously, the Brazilian had spent two seasons in France, making a total of 80 appearances for Ligue 1 side Lyon.

It is also claimed that the player himself is extremely keen on the prospect of a move to The Etihad, and this has given the Citizens confidence that an agreement can be reached, the report claims.

At present, Paqueta is contracted to the East London club until the summer of 2027 after signing a five-year deal when joining the Hammers last year.

The former AC Milan man was handed his senior debut for Brazil in 2018 and has now been capped 42 times by his country, scoring nine goals.

West Ham will undoubtedly be reluctant to allow Paqueta to leave the club this summer as they have already sold former captain and fellow midfielder Declan Rice, who joined Arsenal last month in a deal worth a staggering £105 million.