Europa League - West Ham must savour Paquetá while they can

While the Brazilian’s future may well lie elsewhere, he holds the key to success at home and abroad this season

- Jacob Steinberg

There is still no indication about where the Football Association's investigation into Lucas Paquetá's alleged breach of betting regulations will end up. West Ham and the mercurial Brazilian remain in the dark. All they can do is wait for news on whether Paquetá is going to be hit with a charge that would potentially end with him spending a long spell on the sidelines.

It was an eight-month ban for Ivan Toney when the FA found him guilty of betting on games. Paquetá, though, is in a different situation. The allegation against him relates to other people placing bets on the midfielder to receive yellow cards across various Premier League matches. Paquetá, whose hopes of completing an £85m move to Manchester City were quashed by the investigation coming to light last August, was said to have been shocked by the suggestion of any wrongdoing on his part.

It has had no adverse effect on his football. This is Paquetá's second year at West Ham and it remains to be seen if there is going to be a third. There is every chance of City reviving their interest if his innocence has been established by the time the summer transfer window opens.