West Ham Star Dropped Against Sunderland, Replacement Named as Discontent Grows

Lucas Paqueta will again be absent when West Ham welcome Sunderland on Saturday, with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo confirming the Brazilian will not be part of the matchday squad.

The midfielder has endured a frustrating few weeks. Earlier this month, Paqueta requested to be left out of West Ham’s FA Cup third-round victory over QPR, a decision that raised eyebrows among supporters. He then missed the 2-1 Premier League win away at Tottenham last weekend, officially sidelined by a back problem that has continued to trouble him.

Paqueta’s absence has inevitably fuelled speculation about his future. The 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a January move to Brazilian giants Flamengo, with reports suggesting discussions have taken place behind the scenes. While West Ham have remained tight-lipped on any potential transfer, the timing of his continued omission has only added to the sense of uncertainty surrounding his situation.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s clash with Sunderland, Nuno made it clear that little has changed since last week, insisting the club are still waiting for clarity on both Paqueta’s fitness and wider circumstances.

“The situation is the same as last week. We hope the club and Lucas can find a solution,” Nuno said when asked about Paqueta in his pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“He won’t be in the squad for the game against Sunderland this weekend. We have to assess his injury day by day.”

In Paqueta’s absence, Nuno is expected to reshuffle his midfield, with an immediate replacement already identified as West Ham look to maintain momentum across competitions. The Hammers have shown resilience without one of their most creative players, but his continued unavailability is far from ideal at a crucial stage of the season.

For Paqueta himself, the situation appears increasingly delicate. A player who has often divided opinion with his flair and unpredictability now finds himself on the outside looking in, with frustration reportedly growing. Whether this saga ends with a return to action or a January exit remains to be seen, but for now, both player and club face an uneasy wait for a resolution.