Arsenal are circling around LOSC Lille regarding a potential summer move for Gabriel Magalhaes, who is expected to cost around €30 million million.
According to Le10Sport, as relayed by The Sun, Arsenal are set to make a move for Gabriel Magalhaes. The LOSC Lille defender is tipped to leave the club in the summer as the French outfit looks to deal with the massive financial crisis inflicted by the coronavirus.
Arsenal could pounce on that opportunity as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his defensive options. However, the Gunners are set to face stiff competition from Serie A giants Napoli while league rivals Everton are in talks with the player’s entourage.
Gabriel, part of the Lille side since 2017, has enjoyed a stellar campaign this past Ligue 1 season. He became a key component in the club’s backline, having made 24 league appearances. The Brazilian’s strong defensive partnership with Jose Fonte helped Lille finish the season inside top four, thus attracting the interest of Arsenal, among many others clubs in European football.
It is believed that the north London giants could be preparing for life without David Luiz in the upcoming season. The Brazilian veteran’s disastrous debut campaign at Emirates means he could be on the verge of departing the club in the summer when his existing contract comes to an end. It should open the door for his compatriot to fit right in.
As a matter of fact, Arsenal are arguably the best option for Gabriel right now. The Gunners are in desperate need of reinforcements in the defensive unit, following the struggles of experienced figureheads like Luiz, Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi. It could thus force coach Arteta to rely on a new set of defenders.
French sensation William Saliba is already due to arrive at the Emirates this summer, following the end of his loan spell at Saint-Etienne. He is considered as one of the rising stars in Ligue 1 and the youngster’s technical prowess should combine well with Gabriel.
These two individuals could indeed establish a new foundation in the defensive department for Arsenal next season And from a financial perspective, Gabriel’s rather inexpensive €30 million valuation is fairly reasonable, which is why Arteta could be tempted to consider a move for the Brazilian star in the upcoming summer transfer window.
At the same time, however, the Spaniard should also be looking at other alternatives in the market. Borussia Dortmund’s Manuel Akanji is another player Arsenal are considering this summer and it will be interesting to see how the Premier League outfit go about their business in the coming months.
