West Ham United have agreed in principle to receive Lucas Paquetá’s transfer fee from Flamengo in 24 monthly instalments, with both clubs now focused on finalising the structure of the payments, according to sources close to the negotiations.

The Brazilian side have reached an agreement with West Ham on a fixed fee of £35.78 million for the midfielder, with no performance-related add-ons attached. The absence of bonuses underlines Flamengo’s determination to secure clarity over the total cost of the deal at a time when the club is carefully managing its finances.

Discussions are now centred on how the instalments will be divided over the two-year period. Sources indicate Flamengo are pushing for a schedule that protects the club’s cash flow and avoids overexposure in the event of a downturn in revenue.

“If it goes as West Ham wants, Flamengo will be taking risks,” a source involved in the talks said. “We’re not going to ruin our plans. The way we want to close the deal protects us even if we have a bad year financially. We want to be sure we can pay. That’s called responsibility.”

Flamengo had initially proposed paying £30 million up front, roughly 85% of the total fee, with the remaining £5.5 million to follow in smaller instalments. That approach has now been reconsidered by club president Luiz Eduardo Baptista, who is weighing a more extended payment plan to preserve room in the budget for further signings across the season.

For Paquetá, the move represents a return to his boyhood club and a chance to relaunch his career in familiar surroundings. The Brazil international has already agreed personal terms with Flamengo on a contract running until December 2029, signalling his commitment to a long-term project in Rio de Janeiro.

Paquetá joined West Ham from Lyon in 2022 and has contributed four goals and one assist in 18 Premier League appearances this season. However, uncertainty over his future has seen the 28-year-old omitted from Nuno Espírito Santo’s matchday squads since early January, as negotiations over his transfer gathered pace.

With the fee agreed and only the payment structure left to settle, all parties expect a resolution once Flamengo’s board are satisfied the instalment plan aligns with the club’s financial strategy.