ExWHUEmployee: Not much can be read into Gabigol’s West Ham comments
Flamengo striker Gabriel Barbosa has recently praised West Ham in an interview with The Sun.
In the article, it is reported that the Brazilian is ‘attracting Premier League transfer interest’ as he goes on to praise the likes of West Ham, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
He said, “Liverpool have a very interesting team and a fantastic coach. Tottenham is a mega team and I really enjoyed the West Ham season. I’m a big fan of Premier League football.”
ExWHUEmployee, via his Patreon page of The West Ham Way Podcast, stated that the Hammers were extremely close to signing him in January 2020, but there hasn’t been anything linking him with a move to the London Stadium this summer.
He wrote, “The forward came very close to joining the club in January 2020 from Inter Milan and is still with the same agent who tried to bring the move to the London Stadium now.
“Now as far as I know he is happy in Brazil and we have not approached him since this mentioned approach in 2020.
“How much can be read into this is probably minimal (I will ask around) but it is good that other players took note of our season.”
Worth looking into
Gabigol may not have moved to the London Stadium a year and a half ago, but that doesn’t mean he won’t this time around if the club push hard to get him over the line.
It is well documented that David Moyes is in the market for a striker with Tammy Abraham understood to be at the top of his list.
However, according to The Daily Express, Arsenal are also looking to sign the player and are believed to be ahead of us in the race.
There’s a good chance that we’re going to lose in a bidding war against our North London rivals, so could be wise to make a move for Gabigol.
In the Brasileirao last season, he bagged 14 goals and registered two assists in 25 games.
The campaign in Brazil begins a month before leagues in Europe do, and this season he’s already scored three goals in two games – playing just 145 minutes.
He’s got his goal-scoring touch back and we must look into signing him this summer.
In other West Ham news, WHZ View: Fabrizio Romano shuts down Abraham speculation, West Ham fans should be ecstatic
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