Chelsea have missed out on the signing of Inter Milan striker Gabriel Barbosa. The Daily Mail has confirmed that the Brazilian striker has agreed a £14m deal to return to Flamengo on a permanent basis, despite reported interest from Frank Lampard and the Blues.
The Express had previously reported that Barbosa was the Blue’s number one target this month. The club reportedly wanted him to provide back-up for Tammy Abraham with Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi seemingly seen as surplus to requirements.
However, it seems that guaranteed first-team opportunities and the relationship Barbosa built with the Flamengo fans meant he chose a permanent move to Brazil. He enjoyed an incredibly successful spell on loan previously, scoring 43 goals in just 59 appearances.
Lampard will have been hoping that the 23-year-old would have replicated that form in England, but the Chelsea boss will now need to pursue other targets if he is to sign a striker this month.
Krzysztof Piatek has been heavily linked with the Blues in recent days and could make a move to London before the end of the window. The Daily Mail has reported that the Polish striker has been offered to Chelsea, but only if they meet the £25 million price tag.
Lampard’s search for a striker looks set to continue. Barbosa has made a permanent move elsewhere, but he might still make a move back to Europe if he continues to rip it up in the Brazilian league. The Blues should monitor his situation in the coming years. However, in the meantime, the club needs to find a short-term solution to their striker problem.
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