West Ham United are believed to have failed with a first bid for Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa, with a loan move seemingly impossible.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has taken to Twitter to claim that West Ham have approached Flamengo over a loan deal.
That would have seen Barbosa – known as Gabigol – join West Ham for 18 months but Flamengo have made it clear that no such deal will be done.
O Dia in Brazil have added to the claims, stating that West Ham were willing to pay a €6million (£5million) loan fee.
Flamengo have made it clear that they will not let Gabigol leave in that kind of deal, leaving West Ham to consider a new move.
Gabigol, 25, is keen to sign for Newcastle United according to The Chronicle, but they would seemingly struggle with a loan offer too.
Newcastle have more cash to splash than West Ham, meaning they are a real threat to pip David Moyes to Gabigol’s signature.
With 98 goals in 139 games for Flamengo, Gabigol has been ridiculous back in Brazil after struggling with Inter Milan and Benfica.
That’s something for West Ham and Newcastle to factor in, but it sounds like Flamengo won’t be easy to deal with this month.
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