Chelsea have joined West Ham in the race to sign Inter Milan forward Gabriel Barbosa, according to reports in the English media.

The Hammers have been long term admirers of the 23-year-old and scouted him on his recent loan spell at Flamengo.

Barbosa scored 34 goals during his time with the Brazilian club and they were prepared to sign him on a permanent basis, but the player is angling for a move back to Europe.

It has led to the Blues taking a look at the striker. Frank Lampard’s side are looking for a new forward, but they are said to be struggling to secure their main targets in the January transfer window.

CSKA Moscow striker Fedor Chalov has been linked in recent days, but Barbosa would certainly offer more of a threat in front of goal and could cost around the same amount.

The Brazilian has, though, struggled during spells in Italy and Portugal. He scored just once in ten games for Inter while he managed just five appearances during a loan spell at Benfica.