Lucas Paqueta had another great game for West Ham on Saturday (Picture: Getty Images)
Paul Scholes was so impressed with Lucas Paqueta during West Ham’s win over Manchester United on Saturday that the Brazilian reminded him of Eric Cantona.
Paqueta was the creator as the Hammers beat the Red Devils 2-0 at the London Stadium, setting up the goals scored by Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus.
That comes after Paqueta laid on assists for all three of West Ham’s goals in a 3-0 win over Wolves in their last Premier League outing.
Scholes likes what he sees from the former Lyon man, not just by his silky skills, but also his physical presence, reminding him of the legendary Frenchman.
‘He’s so impressive, he can do everything,’ Scholes told TNT Sports. ‘The big thing that surprised me today was his physicality, the size of the man! He’s a right unit.
‘He almost reminds me of Cantona in that way, in that people just bounce off him.
‘But to go with that he’s got that brilliant quality that Jarrod Bowen and Kudus must be licking their lips, every time he gets the ball they make runs and they’re going to be found, like that bit of brilliance he produced today.’
Paqueta (right) and Mohammed Kudus have been in fine form (Picture:Getty Images)
Paqueta came close to a move to Manchester City in the summer and Scholes has no doubt that European giants will be interested in the 26-year-old.
‘With performances like that there will be big clubs wanting him,’ said the Manchester United icon. ‘No disrespect to West Ham, I know they’re a big club, but you talk about Manchester City, Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona. You can see him playing in those teams because the lad has real quality.’
It was Paqueta’s superb pass which set up Bowen’s opener and the England international is delighted with the quality and flexibility the front three are showing for West Ham.
‘When I scored that goal I was playing off the right and I think that’s the flexibility that me, Mo and Lucas have got, interchanging positions,’ he said.
‘I received it, played it to Lucas, then it was a lovely ball over the top and just up to me to keep my nerve and it fell to me put away. If it’s us three, we’re really interchangeable and not predictable for the opposition to mark us out of the game.’
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