West Ham United boss David Moyes believes midfielder Lucas Paqeuta could be the most talented flair player the Hammers have had at the club since Dimitri Payet.

West Ham spent big on Paqueta in the summer, signing the 35-cap Brazilian international for an initial fee of £36.7million from Olympique Lyonnais, which could rise to £52.6m in potential future add-ons.

Paqueta only played for 20 minutes off the bench in Thursday night’s Europa Conference League Group B win over Anderlecht, setting up fellow big-money summer signing Gianluca Scamacca, who came off the bench to score in the 1-0 victory.

READ MORE: Gianluca Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta justify summer price tags in West Ham’s Anderlecht win

While it was a cameo outing, it was the first time Paqueta had a direct goal contribution since his arrival, and while his assist will have pleased many, it was not what saw him go viral during the match.

As Paqueta received a long diagonal pass, he jumped up, flicked one leg behind the other and controlled with a piece of skill that not many of the world's best could have emulated. In doing so, right in front of the West Ham bench, Aaron Cresswell and Tomas Soucek were both caught on camera being shocked in amazement at what Paqueta had just produced by the byline.

Moyes was also impressed, suggesting that Paqueta could be the most talented playmaker the club have had since former attacking midfielder and French international Payet. The Frenchman played for West Ham between 2015 and 2017, scoring 15 goals and providing 23 assists during his 60 appearances in claret and blue, also winning the club's Player of the Year award for the 2015/16 season.

West Ham's Scottish boss was left in awe at Paqueta's skill but has highlighted the need for him to score goals and create them, something he has now started to do after impressing in Brussels.

"We are seeing someone who is talented and a different sort of player we have had at the club for a long time," said Moyes. "I don't want to put any pressure on him, but maybe Dimitri Payet was the last one.

"Every West Ham supporter I speak to always talks of Payet, what he brought to the club. Paqueta has an individual talent like that, which is different to what we have got. We have tried to add value to the team by what sort of players and add something.

"I am hoping Lucas can do that, but I also want him to score goals, make goals, and help my play be better. I saw his bit of skill, and it was excellent."

West Ham's Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the European Conference League win over RSC Anderlecht and West Ham at Lotto Park
West Ham's Italian forward Gianluca Scamacca celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the European Conference League win over RSC Anderlecht and West Ham at Lotto Park

Moyes and West Ham in the summer spent around £160m on new talent, with Paqueta being the most expensive of the eight signings acquired in the summer. That combined fee could rise towards the £200m mark if all add-ons are triggered.

Asked about the importance of having flair players in his side, such as Paqueta, Moyes highlighted the importance of first building solid foundations before adding to that, and that feels that once Paqueta has fully settled after just over two years in Ligue 1 prior to his move, he can make a real difference for the Hammers.

"Yeah, of course," added Moyes when asked about wanting the flair Paqueta has in his team. "We want to build a good team. Sometimes you have to build from the bottom up, putting another layer of bricks on and fighting and going again. Sometimes you need to knock a bit down to go again.

"We think the players we have will add to that. We just need to give them a chance, and Paqueta is another one. He needs time to settle in. he has been in French football for the past few years.

"It has all changed for him in terms of the intensity. A couple of times, he has been caught on the ball recently, so it is something we want to try and make him aware of and understand, but he has already made one or two key passes for us already, and we are hoping to see much more of it."

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