West Ham’s January transfer window plans could have taken a blow before the window has even opened with the news that Gabriel Barbosa, better known by many as Gabigol, has put an end to talks temporarily.
FCInterNews claim that the 22-year-old is keen to hold talks with Inter Milan boss Luciano Spalletti when he returns to the San Siro as he seeks to nail down a regular spot.
Having failed to adapt to life in Italy, he was shipped out on loan to Benfica and then back to his former club Santos, where he scored 19 goals in 42 games.
However, it could be good news for the Hammers. Having cost Inter Milan £27 million in 2016, he is unlikely to come cheap and has failed to show any signs that he has what it takes to succeed in Europe.
As such, it would be a real gamble for the Irons to spend a sizeable amount of their transfer budget on such an unproven player. Such gambles have been tried before and rarely paid off.
Giving Manuel Pellegrini more time to consider his options may lead to a deal breaking off for the Brazilian, but could also allow the club to search for a more reliable alternative.