West Ham United are currently in negotiations to land Flamengo and Brazil striker Gabriel Barbosa, who is keen to move to England.
According to Sky Sports, Premier League side West Ham United are currently in talks to land Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa.
The Brazilian international is one of the finest forwards in South America and has consistently performed for Flamengo in the last few years. He has made 124 appearances so far for the club, scoring 84 goals and assisting 26 more.
Gabriel played a key role in Flamengo’s Copa Libertadores win in 2019. He led the scoring charts in the competition in 2019 and recently in 2021. There is little doubt that the 25-year-old is a consistently prolific performer in the right system.
While Gabriel has been the top man for Flamengo, he has not been the go-to man for Brazil. He is now seeking a move to the Premier League and believes impressing in the English top-flight would boost his chances of featuring for the Selecao at the FIFA World Cup later this year.
West Ham are one of three Premier League sides interested in the player. Gabriel appears to be a fan of David Moyes’ work with the Hammers. The London-based club have impressed domestically and in Europe this season as they continue their upward trend under the Scottish manager.
Primarily a centre-forward, Gabriel can also do a job on the right wing. However, it is up front that West Ham will be keen to deploy the forward. The Hammers are, at this moment, overdependent on Michail Antonio to lead their line.
The Jamaican international, to his credit, is an excellent striker and uses his ability on the ball and his physical prowess to great effect. The lack of alternatives to the 31-year-old could prove decisive in their efforts to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
A top-four finish appears to be a tall order given West Ham’s competition. However, making the right additions in the January transfer window could boost their chances. Gabriel is certainly an excellent player who could take his game to the next level under the right manager. Moyes has shown his ability to get the best out of his young attackers and could repeat the trick with Gabriel.
The Selecao star has played in Europe before. He enjoyed an underwhelming spell at Inter Milan and later Benfica (on loan). While his initial foray might not have been eye-catching, he has improved as a player since. A much more well-rounded player today, his return to Europe could prove to be a win-win for both him and West Ham.
