West Ham United need to hold onto Lucas Paqueta amid Aston Villa links over the past few days.

The Brazil International has been linked with a move to the Midlands in the case of Morgan Rodgers’ departure from Villa Park.

The 23-year-old has been linked with an £80m switch to Chelsea or Spurs, while the Hammers are asking for £60m for the former Flamengo and Lyon man.

If we were to receive a £60m offer, which would be unlikely, it would be difficult to refuse. However, even after making two signings today and more expected to follow, there is a real possibility of relegation this year, and to sell our second-best player this late on in the window would be crazy.

Not only that, if the club are true to their word and want to back Graham Potter, then they have to keep him.

Paqueta is a player Potter has spoken about his fondness for; he’s the only player that really improved under him in the second half of the season, and he is our top goalscorer so far this season.

It’s simply too late to sell him; we won’t be able to replace him with someone as talented and with his versatility with just three days left of the transfer window. It would be a stupid decision from the board if we were to sell him now.