Flamengo are exploring the possibility of loaning Lucas Paqueta back to West Ham in an effort to seal a move for the Brazil international this month.
BBC Sport reported this week the attacker was the subject of interest from at least two clubs in his native country.
One of those clubs is Flamengo, who are prepared to pay about £35m for the attacker.
Sources indicate Paqueta is pushing to leave, but the Hammers are reluctant to let him go given they face a relegation battle.
Sources claim discussions to that affect have been held between the clubs.
The Brazilian top flight does not start until March, which could – in theory – clear the way for such a deal.
But any agreement for Paqueta to stay in London until the final game of the season in May could depend on how far adrift West Ham are from safety.
They are currently seven points adrift of Nottingham Forest, who occupy 17th place.
Paqueta missed last weekend’s FA Cup third-round win over Queens Park Rangers, which sparked claims from insiders that he did not make himself available because he wants to leave.
However, club sources insist Paqueta’s absence was down to a minor injury.
It now remains to be seen whether Paqueta is selected to play against Tottenham in the Premier League on Saturday.
West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo says the club need to find an answer quickly.
Speaking on Thursday, he told reporters: “We always want our best players to be involved and Lucas is one of our best players, so let’s try to solve the situation.
Film enthusiast Luke Eccleston has urged his followers to watch the emotional 1995 drama with 85% score on Rotten Tomatoes – and you can stream it now on Amazon Prime Video
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A film critic has urged people to ‘stop what they’re doing’ and discover an ‘amazing’ movie currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
Whilst the past year has treated film lovers to a long list of blockbusters – such as Sinners, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Jurassic World: Rebirth, and 28 Years Later – there’s something special about revisiting overlooked classics from decades gone by.
However, with countless titles across streaming services, knowing where to begin can prove challenging. That’s where film buff Luke Eccleston comes in.
Sharing his picks with his 358,600 TikTok followers. In his latest clip, Luke championed a 1995 release. He urged: “Please stop whatever you’re doing, because you have never seen a film like this. And it’s the biggest hidden gem I have ever found.”
The movie he’s talking about is ‘The Cure’ from 1995, a 97-minute drama currently available on Amazon Prime Video.
Luke continued: “Trust me, this is a five star, perfect film. I have never felt the way I felt watching this film.”
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The touching yet poignant story follows a teenager who relocates to a new area and strikes up a friendship with his young neighbour, who is living with AIDS following a contaminated blood transfusion.
Despite facing bullying and isolation because of his condition, the young lad strikes up an unexpected bond with his next-door neighbour. Upon learning of a potential remedy, the duo embark on an adventure spanning America in search of it.
Boasting an impressive 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reviewers lauded the then-teenage stars, Brad Renfro and Joseph Mazzello, for their compelling performances. Critics also confessed the deeply moving storyline left them in floods of tears.
Luke praised the film by saying: “It reminds me so much of films like ‘Stand By Me’, and there’s so much hope and journey, and it’s such a great, funny film.
“But honest to god, them last 25 minutes, I have never ever broke down that much. That wasn’t even the worst part, I’m not even joking.”
Luke wasn’t alone in championing the “beautiful” film – as several viewers flocked to the comments section to express their own thoughts.
One said: “I’m off to watch it now.” Another admitted: “This film broke me.” And a third added: A third viewer revealed: “OMG! ! Watched this with my sister tonight and we cried from beginning to end!
“One of them films you’ll remember forever. Absolutely beautiful yet so heartbreakingly sad. We absolutely loved it. Keep sending your recommendations!”.
‘Sneakerinas’ are one of spring’s biggest trends, and Marks & Spencer has just dropped a £50 pair you’ll be living in
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It’s officially going to be a ‘sneakerina’ spring, and Marks & Spencer’s latest launch is a stylish way you can tap into the trend.
As you can probably guess from the hybrid name, the ‘sneakerina’ combines trainers (or sneakers as Americans call them) and ballerina flats. This sounds pretty harmless, considering the two shoes are already popular and not exactly controversial. However, the result is something many people have mixed opinions about.
A-List celebs have, of course, already adopted this trend from Phoebe Dynevor to Bella Hadid, who was spotted wearing a £119 pair from Vivaia last year.
And now Marks & Spencer has launched its new style, the Suede Single Strap Mary Jane Trainers, priced at £50.
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These stylish shoes feature a suede finish, which is right on trend for 2026. They also feature a comfy flat sole that makes them ideal for everyday wear, along with a signature Mary Jane-style strap.
Currently, there are only two colourways to choose from, with one being a dark brown and the second being a lighter taupe shade. To style these shoes, we’d recommend keeping it simple with a pair of straight-leg, blue-wash jeans, a crisp white t-shirt and a cool bomber jacket over the top.
What we love most about the ‘sneakerina’ trend is how it toughens up the classic ballerina shoe while also adding a feminine touch to the trainer.
If you’re looking for more styles to choose from, we’ve rounded up our current favourites below…
Shop more of our favourite ‘sneakerinas’
adidas Originals Samba Mary Jane
This divisive release from adidas combines one of the brand’s most iconic and trending styles, the Samba, mixed with a popular 2025 shoe trend, the Mary Jane.
Puma Speedcat Suede Ballet Shoes Women
Dua Lipa posted an Instagram carousel sporting the Puma Speedcat Ballet Shoes, showing that she’s given this controversial trend her seal of approval. Dua’s exact metallic silver ones are currently out of stock, but we’ve found some suede pink ones from Puma that still perfectly fit into the trend.
Vivaia Cristina Satin Sneakerinas
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Bella Hadid was spotted wearing this reasonably affordable £119 pair from Vivaia. And not only is Bella a huge fan of Vivaia’s pair, but so is Charli XCX, who was seen sporting two different pairs in the Coachella desert.
Israel’s military has carried out an attack on a village in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, local media outlets are reporting, amid growing concerns of a wider Israeli escalation as the government pushes for the disarmament of Lebanese group Hezbollah.
In a social media post on Thursday, Israeli army spokesman Avichay Adraee told residents of the village of Sohmor to leave their homes ahead of a planned strike on a building he claimed contained “Hezbollah military infrastructure”.
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The Israeli military later said it was attacking several “Hezbollah targets” across Lebanon, without specifying where exactly the strikes were being carried out.
The Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV said the Israeli army had targeted two residential buildings in Sohmor.
Israel has launched near-daily attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah that came into force in late 2024.
Those attacks have ramped up in recent months as Israel and its main ally, the United States, have been pushing the Lebanese government to disarm Hezbollah.
Later on Thursday, the Israeli army issued another evacuation threat for residents of the Bekaa Valley village of Mashghara, west of Sohmor, saying it planned to attack “Hezbollah infrastructure” there.
Last week, the Lebanese military said the first phase of its plan is to bring all the weapons held by non-state actors between the Litani River and the Israeli border, in southern Lebanon, under its control.
The army said on January 8 that it had established a state monopoly on arms in the south in an “effective and tangible way”, without specifically mentioning Hezbollah.
The Lebanese cabinet, meanwhile, has asked the army to brief it early next month on how it would pursue disarmament in other parts of the country.
A senior Hezbollah official warned the Lebanese government this week, however, that trying to disarm the group across Lebanon would trigger chaos and a possible civil war.
Hezbollah has insisted that the disarmament push only applies to the southernmost region of Lebanon that borders Israel, refusing to relinquish its weapons elsewhere.
In an interview with Russian state media outlet RT, senior Hezbollah political official Mahmoud Qmati said on Wednesday that pursuing a state monopoly on arms further north would be “the biggest crime committed by the state”.
“The path taken by the Lebanese government and state institutions will lead Lebanon to instability, chaos and perhaps even civil war,” Qmati said, though he added that Hezbollah would not be dragged into a confrontation with Lebanon’s army.
Hezbollah has argued that it must retain its weapons in order to deter Israel from occupying additional territories in southern Lebanon, where the Lebanese army is ill-equipped to respond.
Israel has maintained troops in five areas of southern Lebanon, in violation of the 2024 truce.
“There will be no talk or dialogue about any situation north of the Litani River before Israel withdraws from all Lebanese territory, liberates the south and the prisoners, and stops its violations against Lebanon,” said Qmati, the Hezbollah official.
Reporting from the Lebanese capital, Beirut, on Thursday, Al Jazeera’s Zeina Khodr explained that by targeting areas north of the Litani River for attack, the Israeli military is signalling that it has “shifted to phase two of the disarmament plan”.
But the Lebanese army has said “it needs time to put a plan together and that it will present it to the government next month”, Khodr said.
“Lebanese army sources [are] saying that this is very challenging, especially if Hezbollah refuses to cooperate with the army. And Hezbollah [is] making clear it will not cooperate with the army,” she explained.
Former Cameroon star Samuel Eto’o has been handed a four-match ban and fined $20,000 (£14,960) after being found guilty of misconduct by a Confederation of African Football (Caf) disciplinary panel.
A Caf statement said that Eto’o, now president of his nation’s football federation (Fecafoot), had violated its principles of sportsmanship during the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final between Cameroon and Morocco.
The former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker was reportedly seen making an angry gesture over some of the decisions taken by the officials as the Indomitable Lions lost 2-0 to the tournament hosts.
Caf boss Patrice Motsepe, who was also in attendance in the stadium in Rabat, appeared to have witnessed Eto’o’s frustration.
On Monday the continent’s governing body announced it was launching an investigation into “violent confrontations and unacceptable behaviour of some players and officials” during last-eight matches.
In response, Fecafoot rejected Caf’s decision, describing the process as one that “raises serious reservations about the fundamental requirements of a fair trial”.
Fecafoot then expressed support for its president in a statement on Wednesday, while suggesting Eto’o would appeal against the sanction.
Since assuming his role in in 2021, Eto’o’s image as a legend of the game has been dented by controversy and scandals.
He has faced accusations of improper conduct and poor management, with some football stakeholders also complaining of grave irregularities within Fecafoot.
Claudia Winkleman wore her statement disco ring whilst filming Strictly Come Dancing last year, and it’s the perfect way to add some glamour to our Traitors-inspired winter wardrobe
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Claudia Winkleman’s outfits on The Traitors have been providing us with endless styling inspiration this winter, but her previous Strictly Come Dancing looks were just as showstopping. For her final ever stint on the hit show, Claudia and stylist Sinead McKeefry injected Claudia’s edgy style with just the right amount of glamour for the Saturday night slot, giving us even more ways to replicate the host’s enviable style.
And one piece that’s been living in our minds (and on our wishlists) was her chunky statement Disco Ring. Claudia wore it for the first week of Strictly with a satin white shirt, tailored trousers and black tie, and it was the perfect way to bring some glitz into her androgynous look.
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The Disco Ring hails from L’Atelier 73 and manages to bring some sparkle and glam whilst still working with Claudia’s signature gothic chic style. You can pick it up for £50, which is a steal compared to some of the presenter’s designer pieces she wears, and it’s an easy accessory to add to your wardrobe.
Made from 925 sterling silver plated in 18K gold, it features oversized artificial crystals which are formed into a textured semi-circle that creates a more elevated version of a disco ball that you can wear on your finger. Claudia opted for the black crystal version, but you can also pick it up in both pink and green which bring a subtle pop of colour to your outfits.
We could easily see the Disco Ring (particularly the green or black versions) working with her signature oversized knits, wool coats and chunky boots that she wears on The Traitors. The brand has also recently launched a Valentine’s and Galentine’s Day range, which is perfect for gifting someone special come February.
A chunky statement ring is the perfect way to jazz up an otherwise understated outfit, and we spotted some others that we’d love to add to our collection. PRYA’s Nora Ring comes with either black or green gemstones and is on sale for just £23, and is the perfect size for stacking with other bands.
Alternatively, the Orielle Ring from Bohomoon has an oversized green inlay and comes in both silver and gold metals, with a matching pendant available to buy. However if you want something that’s really going to make a statement, this Dulcis Cocktail Ring from Swarovski is a must-buy – it’s one sale for £71 and is made from transparent green resin, with a huge oversized pink crystal set in the middle.
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Whilst Claudia’s Traitors wardrobe is the kind of grounded, easy style that we can all be wearing every day, her previous Strictly outfits are still a great go to when you want a little more glam in your life. And we’ll be starting with her Disco Ring.
