David Moyes recently announced his exit from West Ham United. It was a mutual decision between the manager and the club to part ways. Since the announcement, the club were searching for a new manager. As it stands, the former Wolves manager, Julen Lopetegui will be taking over the managerial role at West Ham. When Lopetegui was appointed as the Wolves manager in 2022 they were at the bottom of the league. He then led them to ten wins in his 27 games and got them a 13th place finish. Therefore, it is exciting for the Hammers’ fans to see what the new manager could bring to the table. Additionally, Lopetegui has been out of work since he left his post at Wolves. Therefore, working at West Ham will be a great opportunity for the Spanish coach.
The Hammers are working towards signing a player from Hertha Berlin
With the entry of Lopetegui, the Hammers could make several changes in the squad this summer. According to reports, West Ham are looking to sign Ibrahim Maza from Hertha Berlin. Although the midfielder is playing Germany’s second division, his brilliance was noticed. The 18-year-old played only 13 games this season as he was out due to an injury. The youngster faced a meniscus injury which kept him out for a long period. Despite this, his ability and talent caught West Ham’s eye. However, the Hammers are not the only club interested in Maza. The other clubs that are keen on signing the 18-year-old are Brighton, Leicester City, and Bundesliga club Stuttgart. moreover, his price will be fair for all these clubs, considering he is playing in the second division. However, the competition for him could lead to a rise in Hertha Berlin’s demands.
West Ham star’s career is currently at stake
Lucas Paqueta is currently facing charges for suspicious betting activity. Paqueta’s charges are due to allegations of deliberately getting yellow cards. The Brazilian got four yellow cards in four different games against Leeds United, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and Leicester City. The Football Association (FA) began investigating him due to this pattern. The investigation has been on since last season. Additionally, Paqueta also faced charges from the FA for not providing certain documents.
The FA gave a statement that read: “It’s alleged that Paqueta directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.”
In response to the charges, Paqueta said,
“For nine months, I have co-operated with every step of their investigation and provided all the information I can. I deny all the charges in their entirety and will fight with every breath to clear my name. Due to the ongoing process, I will not be providing further comment.”
As of now, there is no final declaration of what could happen but the Brazilian could face a ban if he is guilty of the offense. Additionally, he is part of Brazil’s Copa America squad. However, if he fails to clear his name and is found guilty, he will be dropped from the squad. Paqueta is an influential player for West Ham as well as Brazil. Incase the charges against him are true, it will be a major blow for the Hammers as well as the Brazil national team.
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