Flamengo have confirmed that they are in talks over a deal to sign Gabriel Barbosa on a permanent deal, amid interest from West Ham.
According to The Daily Mail, Flamengo have said that discussions are ongoing as they look to make his loan a permanent switch.
The report claims that West Ham and Everton are both keen on the forward, who is on loan from Serie A giants Inter Milan.
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Barbosa failed to make the grade at Inter Milan, but has been in sensational form since his loan move to Flamengo. He has scored 22 goals in 26 league appearances for the Brazilian side this year and recently scored twice in the Copa Libertadores final – further raising his profile.
He is also only 23, which means he has plenty of time to develop and progress as a player, to finally make it in a top European league. West Ham can offer him Premier League football and the chance to work under a title-winning coach like Manuel Pellegrini, which will surely be tempting for the forward.
It will all depend on Barbosa’s ambitions, as he may be content with being a star for Flamengo in his home country and continuing to score goals in Brazil. If he wants to make it in Europe and become a regular for Brazil at international level, though, a move to West Ham may be more beneficial.
