Sources: Offer in, West Ham mandate multiple agents to lure goal machine

West Ham have multiple agents working on their bid to sign Inter Milan striker Gabriel Barbosa this month, Football Insider can reveal.

The club are working on a deal for the prolific front man, who has just completed a goal-laden loan spell at Brazilian outfit Flamengo.

A West Ham source has told Football Insider that the club have submitted a loan-to-buy offer for Barbosa, who his valued at £17million by his club.

The Hammers have sketched out a deal in which the 23-year-old would join initially until the end of the campaign with a view to a permanent signing.

They secured Manuel Lanzini in a similar way before eventually converting the Argentina international into a full-time signing.

Barbosa has interest from clubs across Europe after his red-hot form in front of goal in recent months.

Chelsea also have an interest in signing the forward, although he is not regarded as a priority for them.

It is not too dissimilar for West Ham, who's main outfield priority this month is a new central midfielder.

That's not to say the club will pull out of the running for Barbosa.

They are monitoring his situation closely after he banged in 34 goals in 43 matches for Flamengo during his season-long loan that ended last month.

The Inter man used to play as a supporting forward but has take his game to a new level as an out-and-out striker over the last 12 months.

In other West Ham news, Dave Sullivan junior has brokered a midfielder deal for the Hammers as signing blizzard intensifies.