Inter and Santos have struck an initial agreement over Gabriel Barbosa reports coming out of Brazil have suggested.

Inter have agreed to let the 21-year-old return to his former club on a year long loan and the striker is understood to be a mere step away from completing the switch. Negotiations have been helped along by the player himself who has agreed to a wage cut to facilitate the move.

Gabigol’s annual salary of €3 million was initially proving to be a stumbling block in negotiations but it is unclear how much he has agreed to slash his salary and if Inter are contributing at all to further help Santos.

The 2016 Olympic gold medallist has had a torrid time since departing Santos 18 months ago and it is hoped that he could re-find his form that earned him his €30 million transfer to Inter with this loan move back to where it all began.