West Ham United have once again been linked with a move for Brazilian striker Gabriel Barbosa.
The 23-year-old is owned by Inter Milan but is on loan with Flamengo until the end of December.
There Barbosa, nicknamed Gabigol, has scored a superb 31 goals in 41 games.
And that, according to Italian outlet FC Inter News, has rekindled West Ham’s interest in a player they were linked with in the last three windows since Manuel Pellegrini’s arrival.
Barbosa’s agent revealed back in January that West Ham tried to rush through a deal for his client, but he ended up moving back to Brazil on loan for a year instead (FC Inter 1908).
West Ham back in for Barbosa in January?
FC Inter News claims Antonio Conte is looking to sell Barbosa for around £22.5million.
But West Ham’s owners David Sullivan and David Gold will refuse to front up the money.
That’s according to West Ham website Claret & Hugh – which claims to have an inside source at the club, believed to be Sullivan.
And that’s despite a paltry summer net spend of just £25million that has left the Hammers woefully short of striker options.
C&H claim more player sales would be required to finance any arrivals.
Report claims owners will not sanction deals unless players leave
“The only way that could happen (the Barbosa deal) were there to be a couple of departures in the window and the boss is very unlikely indeed to do so given that this is the year in which he has established the group of players he wants,” the report suggests.
If that is the case then Sullivan and Gold have got questions to answer.
As highlighted by the shambolic result at Oxford United, Pellegrini’s squad is not strong enough to compete in the league and for a cup.
Albian Ajeti has failed to impress in his two chances so far and West Ham’s attempt to pass Michail Antonio off as a third striker option were doomed when he was ruled out until the new year with yet another serious hamstring injury.
If West Ham see fit to try and make it through an entire season relying on one striker, Sebastien Haller, staying fit – given the club’s injury record – it borders on negligence.
Sullivan and Gold have serious questions to answer
The owners are making vast sums of money from the Premier League TV deal and increased revenue from their 60,000 stadium.
Many fans believed last summer’s £100million splurge would be a one-off.
And that looks to be the case if Claret & Hugh’s claims are accurate.
Whether it is Barbosa or not West Ham need players not only up front but in several positions.
That includes at fullback and in central midfield.
Just ask anyone who had the misfortune of going to Oxford away last night.
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