Newcastle United fans have reacted in dismay to a tweet by reported transfer target Lucas Paqueta that appeared to suggest he might be staying at Lyon. In the Brazilian midfielder's 4.26am post this morning, the phrases that signalled alarm bells for Toon supporters were "come back stronger for the next season" and "We continue together!!"
Paqueta, 24, tagged his current club in the tweet, which was written in Portuguese but, when translated into English, read: "End of the season and I just have to thank God for everything, take the time to rest, recharge and come back stronger for the next season! Thank you all for the positive and cheering energy!
"We continue together!! @OL."
He also signed off with red and blue hearts and the praying/hands clasped together emoji. Despite national newspaper reports that Newcastle are set to swoop for the former Milan playmaker, Chronicle Live reported yesterday that it is understood no transfer is imminent and the Magpies' faithful have, by and large, regarded his social media message as a sign that any potential deal could be dead in the water.
Paqueta is currently in Asia, along with former Lyon team-mate and good friend Bruno Guimaraes, as the pair prepare for a friendly international against South Korea next week. The Ligue 1 outfit are understood to want £51million for the midfielder, who has scored seven goals in 31 games for Brazil, which would be higher than the £40million club record fee shelled out to bring Joelinton to St James' Park in 2019.
But, responding to Paqueta's disheartening tweet, one fan, with an account called Gassius Clay aka #FordeHaveMercy, said: "Ermm...so you're not joining me for a @GreggsOfficial pasty next season down the Bigg Market then?" Another Twitter user, named Ledman, suggested with a touch of pessimism and sarcasm that Eddie Howe might now lower his sights this summer, posting: "We end up next season with our star signing, Tod(d) Cantwell."
A third, called Frankie, seemed resigned to missing out on Paqueta too, in a tweet that read: "This doesn't look like he's our player next season. Still plenty of time for sure but I just don't think he would have tagged Lyon if there's a chance he could leave.
"My sources are always wrong though Twitter ITK." Lyon fans, in contrast, were generally delighted by the tone of the tweet after a disappointing campaign in which their team finished eighth in Ligue 1, although one supporter, with an account called Mehrox, was more cautious, cynical and suspicious when, in a post written in French, he predicted: "In one week, he'll be wearing a Newcastle shirt."
