Exciting Forward To Link Up With Fellow Brazilian Anderson

One minute fans hear that West Ham United are close to financial fair play limits, the next they hear that the club are pursuing various exotic players ahead of the January transfer window opening. One of the latest stories to do the rounds relates to Inter Milan forward Gabriel Barbosa, who following a lengthy chat with fellow Brazilian Felipe Anderson is supposedly interested in joining West Ham on loan in January .

According to various Italian media outlets, Barbosa is ready to fly to England to discuss a move to the London Stadium from Inter, a club that Hammers have a good relationship with. Gabriel joined Inter for €30m in 2016 but failed to make an impact in Italy and was consequently loaned out to Santos in Brazil, where he has rediscovered his shooting boots and has scored 29 goals already this season. Barbosa is due to return to Inter from Santos in a few days time as his loan expires on December 31st, the 22-year-old has been capped four times by Brazil at international level, scoring twice for his country, he has scored 87 goals so far in his career.

Hammers face stiff competition from Crystal Palace and Everton for Barbosa's signature, however it is believed that the prospect of linking up with Anderson might be the decider. It should not be forgotten that there is another Inter player well known to Hammers fans who might end up back at the London Stadium and that is João Mário, if the money was available Mário would be a perfect fit, unfortunately it appears that Samir Nasri will be the cut priced alternative.

Manuel Pellegrini is not adverse to shaking up the owners back pockets where ever he has managed, if he thinks a player is required he will 'quietly' go about making it happen, he is too much of a wiley old fox to believe 'number crunchers and bean counters' when they say the cupboard is bare. There's always a way, it just requires sensible planning, a trait that is engrained in El Pel. - Ed