---
title: "Virals: West Ham target Gabriel Barbosa wants ‘big project’ to move"
canonical: "https://readwestham.com/2022/01/25/virals-west-ham-target-gabriel-barbosa-wants-big-project-to-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dan Clubbe"
section: "West Ham News"
published: "2022-01-25T17:00:00Z"
modified: "2022-01-25T17:00:00Z"
---

# Virals: West Ham target Gabriel Barbosa wants ‘big project’ to move

[West Ham](https://readwestham.com/2022/01/25/virals-jesse-lingard-hoping-west-ham-make-loan-move/) are yet to sign a striker in the January transfer window and time is running out to bolster the ranks.

Despite links to a host of star names, the Hammers haven’t been able to add [much-needed backup](https://www.whufc.com/teams/first-team/squad) for Michail Antonio.

Still in the hunt for the [Premier League](https://www.premierleague.com/tables) top four, an attacking signing may prove to be the difference between qualification for Europe’s top tier or otherwise.

Discussing the search for a frontman on [Sky Sports Transfer Centre](https://www.skysports.com/transfer-centre), Adam Bates claimed that Flamengo star Gabriel Barbosa is still of interest but the Brazilian has particular demands.

> West Ham have held talks over the signing of Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa with the Brazilian, who is nicknamed 'Gabigol', keen on a move to England.
>
> — Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) [January 3, 2022](https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1478082626510536704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> An offer did come in. The player is happy at Flamengo but will only move back to Europe for a project that is bigger than what he has currently. Basically, sell me a vision.

Bates went on to suggest that a striker is ‘still very much what West Ham are after’ as the [window](https://www.skysports.com/football/transfer-deals) enters its final week.

During the 2020/21 campaign, the 25-year-old ace [scored a sensational 29 times and provided nine assists](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gabriel-barbosa/leistungsdaten/spieler/244275/plus/0?saison=2020) in 42 appearances.

### READ WEST HAM VERDICT

Valued at £23.4million and under contract in Brazil until 2024 ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gabriel-barbosa/marktwertverlauf/spieler/244275)), the mooted 18-month loan bid was always likely to fall on deaf ears.

Clearly a club on an [upward trajectory](https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2021/march/07-march/david-moyes-transformation-year-ago-now-great) under David Moyes, selling the man known as ‘Gabigol’ the vision should be no problem.

Instead, the main stumbling block could come when attempting to strike a satisfactory deal for Flamengo.

With [110 direct goal contributions in just 126 outings](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/gabriel-barbosa/leistungsdatenverein/spieler/244275) for *Mengão*, the ex-Inter Milan man is such a key part of the Brazilian club, it would likely cost in excess of £30million to bring the striker to east London.