Manchester City’s attempt to acquire Lucas Paqueta from West Ham has hit a roadblock as their initial £87 million bid has been turned down.

West Ham has communicated to their Premier League counterparts that they must increase their offer to £95 million if they wish to secure the services of the prized midfielder. Pep Guardiola’s team is actively seeking fresh talent this summer to pursue a fourth consecutive Premier League championship.

Having already finalized deals for promising defender Josko Gvardiol and accomplished midfielder Mateo Kovacic this season, Manchester City has witnessed the departures of Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez, and Benjamin Mendy.

Nonetheless, Guardiola is determined to enhance the team’s caliber, especially with the imminent commencement of the new Premier League season on Friday evening.

Foot Mercato reports that West Ham is seeking a higher sum for Paqueta after submitting a second bid from Manchester City. Negotiations are ongoing, and both teams are optimistic about reaching an agreement.

Paqueta’s tenure at the London Stadium has been brief, as he joined last summer from Lyon on a five-year contract for an initial fee of £36.5 million. During his time with the Hammers, the 25-year-old made 41 appearances across various competitions, contributing with five goals and seven assists.

During his debut season in England’s Premier League, Paqueta left a strong impression with his performances. He particularly stood out in West Ham’s Europa Conference League journey, playing a pivotal role in helping his team secure the championship by defeating Fiorentina 2-1 in the final.

Despite his contributions, Paqueta couldn’t avert his team’s involvement in an undesirable relegation battle on the domestic front. West Ham managed only a 14th-place finish in the top-flight standings.

Reportedly, Paqueta, who has netted nine goals in 42 games for the Brazilian national team, is believed to possess a release clause of £85 million in his contract, which is set to become effective in the upcoming summer.

It is rumored that the talented player intends to exert pressure on West Ham to grant him the opportunity to transfer to Guardiola’s team within the ongoing transfer period.

Guardiola declined to address the speculation during his pre-match press conference ahead of City’s upcoming match against Burnley on Friday to kick off the Premier League season. In response to questions about Lucas Paqueta, Guardiola curtly stated, “I will not comment on [Lucas] Paqueta; he is a West Ham player.” The Brazilian national is anticipated to be part of West Ham’s squad for the upcoming weekend.

In a separate development, the intriguing dynamic between City and West Ham continues, with David Moyes expressing interest in City’s Cole Palmer for a potential loan.

Although these two potential deals are not directly linked, Palmer’s situation could impact Paqueta’s situation, given the ongoing negotiations between the two clubs.