LUCAS PAQUETA’S dream move to Manchester City is in tatters after an alleged breach of betting rules.
Wagers placed back home in Brazil are at the centre of an FA investigation into West Ham’s £85million-rated star.
The playmaker, 25, was on the brink of a switch to City after they had submitted a £70million bid.
However, earlier on Friday, the deal collapsed due to "confidential" reasons.
And the Treble winners will now wait for the outcome of the probe.
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Paqueta is understood to be shocked by the revelations.
Specifics of the investigation are yet to come to light.
But is believed that the process is studying bets made in Brazil, not by the player himself.
There are understood to be no bets showing on Paqueta's own bank statements.
The FA and West Ham declined to comment when approached by SunSport.
The player is free to face Chelsea tomorrow if Hammers boss David Moyes decides to pick him.
When asked yesterday about the latest on Paqueta's transfer situation — before the betting allegations were known — Moyes said: “I can’t shed any light on it.
“I admitted last week there has been an enquiry from City but I have no more to add.”
Paqueta signed for West Ham last summer from Lyon for a club record £51.4 including add-ons – and suffered from injury issues throughout last campaign.
However, he shone in the Europa Conference League, leading the Hammers to their first piece of major silverware since 1980 with Euro glory.
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Paqueta has an £85m release clause in his current contract which becomes active next summer.
He played 94 minutes of West Ham's opening 1-1 draw with Bournemouth.
Last season he appeared in 28 Premier League games for the Hammers, scoring four goals and providing three assists.
Players are not allowed to bet on any matches.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney is currently serving an eight-month ban after admitting 232 breaches of the rules.
And Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier was handed a ten-week suspension for telling a pal to “lump on” his transfer from Spurs to Atletico Madrid in 2019.
Paqueta was last night axed from the latest Brazil squad along with Real Betis midfielder Luiz Henrique, who is understood to be the focus of a similar betting investigation.
Interim coach Fernando Diniz said it was to help “him sort his problems”.
