West Ham United have taken a huge step and have hired a big time lawyer who is known for winning cases against the Premier League in an attempt to prove Lucas Paqueta’s innocence in betting scandal, according to a report from The Mirror. 

The Hammers have reportedly employed Nick De Marco KC as they look to clear Paqueta of four counts of spot-fixing. De Marco has several big wins over the Premier League on his CV, the most being Leicester’s avoidance of a charge and points deduction just a couple of months ago.

Premier League bosses were left stunned in 2021 when De Marco was a crucial part in helping push through the Saudi Arabian purchase of Newcastle United, despite the Premier League’s opposition. He has also taken on and defeated the Football League in the past as he helped both Sheffield Wednesday and Derby avoid and reduce points deductions amid accusations of spending breaches.

West Ham will be hoping Nick De Marco’s next win in football will be in favour of Lucas Paqueta, and therefore also West Ham United. The FA reportedly want to ban the Brazil International for life, despite the fact that one of the bets placed on him to be booked was worth just £7. Around sixty people in Brazil placed bets on Paqueta to be booked in Premier League games. The money put ranged from just £7 to £400, leading to combined winnings of £100,000.

This could be the most difficult case De Marco has had to face against the Premier League so far, and it has undoubtedly been tough on the player too. Lat month Julen Lopetegui said: “I’m happy with his behaviour and his commitment. He’s working very hard, he’s trying to understand what we want. We’re trying to help him to be better and better. He’s an important player.

We don’t talk about [the charges]. We talk about football, about the next match and about life. But not about this.’

Paqueta had by far his best performance of the season so far last time out as the Hammers attack ran riot and defeated Ipswich Town 4-1 at London Stadium. He looked at his creative best before rounding up the scoring with a simple tap in after a brilliant pass from Jarrod Bowen with twenty minutes go. He will hope to continue this form now he has an experienced lawyer to fight his corner.