Pep Guardiola reviews Manchester City's 4-0 win at Newcastle
Newcastle United have been unsuccessful in an audacious approach for Lyon midfielder Lucas Paqueta ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports. The Magpies are looking to make a statement at the earliest possible opportunity under new Saudi Arabia-backed ownership.
Eddie Howe will want to bolster his squad in January. (Image: GETTY)
Paqueta currently earns £83,000 (€98,000) per week in France, but Newcastle were willing to increase his weekly salary to £177,000 (€208,000).
That's twice as much as the club's current highest earner, Joelinton (£86,500 per week), and it complemented a transfer offer worth around £34million (€40m).
However, Paqueta has rejected the approach because he doesn't want to leave Lyon, despite the significant pay rise and opportunity to play in the Premier League.
The Brazil international has been in fine form this season, scoring six goals and registering three assists in 13 Ligue 1 starts.
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Howe has admitted fears that it could be challenging to attract quality players to join Newcastle in January, given the club's current relegation threat.
He said: "I've heard from everyone how nice the area is to live in. We'll have no problem attracting players to Newcastle for a whole host of reasons. I don't think that's going to be an issue.
"What is an issue is our league position in attracting players in January. It's very difficult to make any promises in the sense that we will definitely spend money and sign players.
Lucas Paqueta has shone in Ligue 1 this season. (Image: GETTY)
"You have to attract players, they have to want to come, and they have to be the right players to improve the squad. That is why January is an incredibly difficult window to recruit players in, especially when your league position is difficult.
"I can't make any promises on that, but I can promise that the people above me, the owners, will support the team and me in trying to achieve what we need. But we can't focus on that yet.
"We are going to have the group of players we have until January – we need to get more out of them and help them in every way we can. I still believe we have the players we need to get results."