‘He’ll have a meeting’: Sky reporter claims things will spice up for West Ham & £25m target

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Dharmesh Sheth has claimed that West Ham United’s offer for Gabriel Barbosa is ‘still on the table’, as he told the Transfer Show on Sky Sports (12/01/22 at 7:10 pm)

The Sky reporter added that Barbosa will have a meeting with Flamengo and his agent on Thursday where he will express his intentions of wanting to leave for England.

The 25-year-old, who is nicknamed ‘Gabigol’, has played in Europe before, but only a handful of games for Inter Milan and Benfica.

The all-action striker clearly wasn’t provided with the chances that he felt he deserved and now sees this possible move as a pathway back to the big time.

David Moyes needs more depth in quality upfront because the Scotsman can’t simply rely on Michail Antonio.

And it seems that West Ham’s offer of an initial 18-month loan deal, then an option to buy for £25 million, still stands, as reported by transfer expert Sheth.

“Remember at the start of the window, I was talking about West Ham’s interest in the Flamengo and Brazil striker, Gabriel Barbosa,” said Sheth.

“It all went quiet. We all know David Moyes makes the final decision on transfers at West Ham United and we thought that interest had gone away.

“I am now told that West Ham’s offer to Flamengo is still on the table. I am told that it’s not been withdrawn and the interest does remain from West Ham United for Gabriel Barbosa.

“A reminder of what that was, an 18-month loan, with a €30 million (£25m) option to buy. Flamengo don’t want to loan or sell Gabriel Barbosa in this transfer window.

“But, I am told, Gabigol will have a meeting with Flamengo and his agent tomorrow (Thursday) in which he will make it clear to them that he wants to make a move to England.”

Given that Barbosa plays in Brazil, then, in this instance, money would seriously talk, but West Ham aren’t offering a transfer fee, yet.

That might be the issue from Flamengo’s perspective because they wouldn’t want to lose their best player anyway.

If a transfer fee was put on the table straight away, then it would probably make life easier for them.

But, it’s understandable that the Hammers want to loan him first so they can test the waters with the player given he has had little European experience before.