According to a recent report by Fichajes (translated by Sport Witness), Tottenham Hotspur are ready to offer €30m for LOSC Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhães this summer. However, the same source has also mentioned Napoli and Real Madrid to be contenders for Spurs in the race to acquire the services of the Brazilian defender during the upcoming transfer window.
Gabriel’s Solid Form At Lille Last Season
The ex-Troyes talent enjoyed an outstanding campaign at the Stade Pierre Mauroy after putting in a run of dominant defensive displays at the heart of Christophe Galtier’s backline. He had featured in 34 matches for the Ligue 1 outfit last season, finding the back of the net once while picking up six yellow cards in the process in multiple competitions.
The 22-year-old has been in sparkling form for Lille over the past ten months based on his average of 1.8 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 3.3 clearances per game in the Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League in the previous campaign. He has hardly given away the ball after completing 82.2% of his attempted passes in the French top tier (stats via whoscored).
Gabriel has previously represented Brazil at the Under-20 level but is still waiting to make his debut for Tite’s senior side. If the Sao Paulo-born youngster can maintain his high standards next season, then it is only a matter of time before he secures a few international caps for his homeland.
What Will The Brazilian Defensive Ace Bring To The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?
Gabriel is not the quickest of defenders, but he more than makes up for his lack of pace through his dominance and determination to head the ball in the air. The Brazilian centre-back is proficient at winning a lot of aerial duels as he can utilise his upper-body strength to outmuscle the opposition at both ends of the pitch. He has also proven himself to be a capable defender at the back as he can pull off a few crucial interceptions and last-ditch clearances for his team.
However, there are some serious concerns over whether the Ligue 1 defender can cope with the high intensity of Premier League football if he decides to make a switch to the English capital this summer.
An up-and-coming centre-half of Gabriel’s skill set and potential will undoubtedly be a shrewd acquisition for Spurs in the long-run. Jose Mourinho could recruit the South American sensation to build a strong squad capable of challenging Liverpool and Manchester City at the summit of English football in the coming seasons. Gabriel will not only add more quality to the Tottenham defence but also enhance the overall depth of their squad.
Plus, the Brazilian prospect will offer some much-needed competition for the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Davinson Sanchez, Japhet Tanganga and Juan Foyth in the race to secure a regular starting spot at North London next season. With all things considered, signing Gabriel could prove to be a smart piece of business for Spurs before the start of the new campaign.
