Liverpool transfer rumour: Jurgen Klopp looking to sign Inter Milan's Gabriel Barbosa in January
Reported Liverpool target Gabriel Barbosa could leave Inter Milan in January due to the lack of game time with Premier League side ready to make a move for the Brazilian forward. Gabriel has just played 16 minutes of Serie A football this season and according to his agent Wagner Ribeiro, the striker is feeling humiliated.
In an interview with Football Italia, Riberio said: "I talk to him constantly. Everyone knows the salary which Gabriel receives at Inter isn’t sustainable for Santos, no club [in Brazil] can afford him.
“I was contacted by a club from Rio and one from Minas to take Gabriel on loan, but I can’t guarantee anything. What I want is for my client to no longer be humiliated. Why isn’t he playing? Not even Inter can answer that."
Gabriel Barbosa, also known as Gabigol is already looking for a new club and Liverpool are interested in bringing the talented striker to Premier League in January. Jurgen Klopp is still struggling to find a regular centre-forward to his starting XI after the recent injuries to Philippe Coutinho and Daniel Sturridge.
Divock Origi is currently playing as the front man for Liverpool, but Klopp wants a more mobile and prolific striker to lead the line for his team. Gabigol has scored over 50 goals for Santos and also broke into Brazil’s senior side earlier in the year. Despite signing a 5-year contract with Inter, things have gone well for the 20-year-old who is once again being linked with a transfer move in January.
Coutinho advocating a move for Gabigol
Prior to his move to Inter Milan, Gabigol spoke exclusively to TMW and revealed how Coutinho had regular talks with him and assured that Inter were the right option for him. TMW also reported that Coutinho once tried to advocate Gabigol’s move to Liverpool, however, the club hierarchy did not approve of the transfer.
However, Coutinho’ s role could become vital to Liverpool’s hope of signing Gabigol as the striker rates the Liverpool playmaker as one of his closest friends in the game. Inter Milan would not allow Gabigol to leave for cheap and Liverpool could have to cough up something in the region of €20million to sign the striker.
Is Gabigol the right fit for Liverpool?
At the age of 20, Gabriel Barbosa is far from being the finished article, however, at present he is regarded as the better striker than Divock Origi. Gabigol also has a strong physical presence which would also allow Liverpool to play long balls and hope for the Brazilian to hold the play and bring others in the action.
Gabigol’s pace and finishing abilities would allow Liverpool to play on the counter-attack and hurt oppositions with direct play. At €20million, Gabigol looks like the ideal option available in January for Jurgen Klopp to go after given Sadio Mane’s month-long absence due to African Cup of national.