West Ham will continue their search for a striker in the summer but they can scratch longstanding target Gabriel Barbosa off their list.
West Ham have been heavily linked with several strikers ahead of the summer window.
Many of them have been reported as West Ham targets in previous windows too.
But when it comes to being persistently linked with the Hammers, Gabriel Barbosa takes some beating.
The Brazilian striker – nicknamed Gabigol – has been linked with West Ham in just about every window for the last three or four years.
Ban woe for West Ham target Gabigol
From his time at Inter Milan and even since returning home to Brazil with Lucas Paqueta’s former club Flamengo.
The 27-year-old forward has an impressive scoring record of 245 goals in just over 500 career appearances for club and country.
Two summers ago a Brazilian journalist claimed West Ham had bid for Barbosa.
A move never materialised. And now it looks like it never will either.
Because longstanding 245-goal West Ham striker target Gabigol has been banned for two years.
Barbosa’s two-year ban explained
Flamengo have confirmed Barbosa’s two-year ban, which takes effect from last year.
And it means he will be banned until April 2025 pending an appeal.
“Flamengo striker Gabigol has been suspended for the next two years after attempting to deceive anti-doping control,” Fabrizio Romano claims on X.
“Gabigol will be out from April 1 and he will appeal after this sentence.”
The longstanding West Ham target’s ban has also been reported by Brazilian outlet Globo and Football Italia on Monday evening.
“Gabigol was suspended for two years for doping test fraud,” Globo states.
“The trial, which began last week, was concluded this Monday by the Anti-Doping Sports Justice Court (TJD-AD), in a session that lasted just over two hours.
“Due to a technical issue with the anti-doping regulations, the penalty came into effect on April 8, 2023, when tests were collected at the club’s CT, even though the player had been active for the last year. Therefore, he is banned from playing until April 2025. Appeal is possible.”
It looks like West Ham made a wise choice not pushing through a move for Gabigol.
When he was being linked with West Ham, Flamengo were said to be demanding in excess of £20m.