Report: West Ham have striker approach rejected
So far West Ham United’s January transfer business amounts to a couple of young academy starlets sealing loan moves away from the club.
And while those will hopefully be profitable temporary stints for the two youngsters, the Hammers faithful will be expecting some incomings as well.
One of those could potentially be Inter Milan striker Gabriel Barbosa, who it feels like the Hammers have been linked with for decades now.
However, the Irons’ most recent approach for the Brazilian was met with a resounding no. FC Inter News claimed on Thursday that the Italian heavyweights rejected an offer from the east London outfit.
It’s said that the Hammers put forward an 18-month loan for the striker which included an option to buy for £17million.
However, Antonio Conte’s side are looking to cash in on the 23-year-old immediately after his goal-laden loan spell with Flamengo.
West Ham Zone’s View
We all know about Barbosa’s record at Flamengo. It was exceptional, 34 goals in 43 games to be exact.
However, as we also know, he’s yet to produce anything close to that in European football. In that respect it makes sense for the Irons to try before they buy.
Unfortunately, and pretty obviously, Inter want to cash in while the striker’s stock is high. You’d think West Ham would’ve known that. Typically, though, they tried to save money with a loan move, only for it to fail. Quelle surprise.
In other West Ham news, the club’s former academy chief has nominated one youngster to fill the boots of an injured first team star.