While there may be reticence about Paqueta in terms of price, aptitude, and on-field temperament, I think that deep down there is also a degree of reticence amongst us because we know that we simply have to get it right this time. The past two summers’ attempts to find midfield cover for Rodri have been unsatisfactory, put mildly, and our form without him has exposed just how dependent we are on his presence. Another botched deal and we continue to jeopardise the length of Rodri’s career. Paqueta is physically very strong and a big unit- he would be second in that regard only to Rodri- yet I cannot see him playing in the middle of the pitch on his own, so there would have to be someone alongside him. That’s where this summer’s business becomes trickier. Neither Nunes nor Kovacic give me the impression that they would be compatible, and there is nobody in the academy primed to step up, so it’s probably either Guimaraes or Neves. What with the football summer and ongoing investigation, it’s going to be a difficult job moving players out to bring others in, so even if we do land Paqueta, we might still not have all the right pieces on the board by August.