Section: Sport:Football:Premier League

LUCAS PAQUETA is getting ill and feeling stressed by the delay to his spot-fixing probe.

And West Ham boss Graham Potter wants the FA to resolve his case before next season so the club know if he will be part of a rebuild.

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In May 2024, the Brazilian playmaker, 27, was charged with four counts of spot-fixing and two of obstructing an FA investigation.

This followed allegations he intentionally got a yellow card for betting purposes in four Prem games between November 2022 and August 2023.

The club say they have NO idea when the findings of this will be revealed, so do not know if he will be banned for life or found not guilty.

Being in limbo is taking its toll on Paqueta, who denies any wrongdoing, and he broke down in tears of frustration after being booked in the 1-1 draw with Tottenham on May 4.

Today’s clash against seventh-placed Nottingham Forest is the Hammers’ final home match of the season and it could be the last time he ever dons the claret-and-blue colours.

He was an unused sub against Manchester United last week with a  cold.

Potter said: “The week he had was  particularly tough  for him personally, which I think everybody can  understand.

“And then, as a result of that, he was feeling under the weather on the day before the game at Manchester United and during the game.

“So I didn’t want to risk him and make it worse for him. But he’s trained really well, he wants to be part of the team to help and we’ll see how to use him for the weekend.”

When he broke down in tears against Spurs, wife Duda Fournier took to Instagram to express her concerns about her husband’s mental state.

She said: “My husband has a posture and a strength that I admire and impresses me. We have been living this nightmare for two years.”

Asked if the situation was taking  its toll on Paqueta, Potter replied: “Obviously, you know what it’s like, sometimes you are in stress and  pressure, it can manifest itself in a different way.”

Asked if he wants clarity by the start of next season, Potter said: “For everybody concerned, yes. The sooner the better for everyone.

“In fairness to Lucas, he’s handled it brilliantly. Generally he’s come in and conducted himself in a really good way. He’s just ready to help the team.

“I think coming into work is a  distraction for him. It takes his mind off things.

“For me, I’m just there to support him, the same with his team-mates.”

The FA declined to comment when approached by SunSport.

It will be an emotional afternoon in East London also for the likes of Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, Vladimir Coufal and Danny Ings.

The quartet, who were part of the 2023  Conference League-winning squad, have not been offered new contracts and will leave this summer.

Czech defender Coufal, 32, joined in 2020 from Slavia Prague.

And in a message to Hammers fans, he said: “I knew that once this time would come but I could not imagine how emotional it would be for me and my family.

“I can say with all honesty in my heart that I enjoyed every minute of being at West Ham. I am taking a lot of unforgettable memories with me.” 

Yet there are NO guarantees any of them will play a role today and be given a proper send-off as Potter is eyeing up a possible 13th-place finish.

He added: “There’s a lot at stake in the Premier League in terms of our points and what Forest are fighting for, so we have to make sure we pick the right team to try to win.

“Of course, emotion is always part of football so that can help. But we have to make the decision based on everything to try to win.”

Ruben Amorim future

Ruben Amorim plunged his own Manchester United future into doubt after the latest Old Trafford debacle.

The Portuguese manager’s admission that he is struggling to find a solution for his team’s shocking season was a clear sign of the uncertainty at the heart of the club.

But the bigger question marks will only be resolved in Bilbao next week. A Europa League Final win for United over Tottenham will mean far more than just the trophy and a silver sheen to cleanse many of the black clouds of despair.

But defeat in the Basque country will have ramifications to last far beyond the summer. In simple terms, it is about cold, hard cash. The reality is that winning the Europa League will ensure a looming black hole is filled.

If United do not triumph in San Mames, the immediate cost will be clear. A £10million cut in sponsorship revenue, as part of the contract with kit suppliers adidas.

No European football at all, meaning they will miss out on around £49m up front through Uefa’s complicated revenue distribution system plus the £20m-plus in gate receipts from the minimum four home games.

And if, as now seems likely, they do finish 16th in the Prem table, that will mean £23.8m less in TV-related prize money than for last term’s eight-placed finish.

That all adds up to more than £100m, before the prize money for progress through the Champions League – up to a further potential £95m or so – is taken into account. Less income equals less money to spend. 

FORMER Ipswich manager George Burley has received the all-clear following his cancer diagnosis.

The 68-year-old publicly announced his diagnosis in September but did not disclose the form of the disease.

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He said: “It has been a difficult time, but I am feeling much brighter now.

“In fact, I am able to get to matches at Portman Road and I am enjoying watching the team playing back in the Premier League.

“We are grateful to the club (Ipswich) for the support they have shown me and my family and I would ask that everyone is respectful of our privacy at this time.”

Burley, who played for Ipswich before managing the club, underwent six cycles of chemotherapy as well as an operation which left him in hospital for three weeks.

But the former defender has this week revealed that he is now cancer free.

He told BBC Radio Suffolk: “It’s been a long road – it didn’t happen overnight.

“It started almost a year ago where I was having symptoms and wasn’t feeling great.

“It was great to eventually come through it all – I’ve been very, very lucky with the amount of support I’ve had.

“My family’s been unbelievable… and I’ve been very well looked after.”

Burley felt unwell for several months before being diagnosed with cancer.

Opening up on the early stages of his battle, the Ipswich legend continued: “Eventually, when I did get diagnosed, I thought I’ve got to get on with it.

“The people around you, you’ve got to make sure you’re not moping around [and] keep their chins up.

“It’s not easy because initially you don’t want to speak much about it, but once you grow into it, people around you know you’re accepting the fact – and [you] get on with life as normal as possible.”

The Ipswich hero also said he was “lucky” his body responded to the treatment and believes the fitness levels he built up as a player helped him in his recovery.

Burley enjoyed spells with Sunderland, Gillingham, Motherwell, Ayr United, Falkirk and Colchester United as a player.

But his longest term came in the form of 13 years overall at Ipswich.

After hanging up his boots, he spent eight years as manager of the Tractor Boys.