According to a recent report by The Daily Express, Arsenal are eyeing a £30m move to acquire the services of Gabriel Magalhaes from LOSC Lille this summer after missing out on Manchester City’s John Stones during the January transfer window. The same source has also mentioned that the Gunners made a failed attempt to sign the Brazilian defender last month.
Gabriel’s Sensational Rise In French Football
The South American sensation has enjoyed a brilliant campaign for Christophe Galtier’s side so far after he put in a series of brave defensive performances at the back. He has made 30 appearances for the French outfit this term and has averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.0 interceptions and 3.4 clearances per game on all fronts (stats via whoscored). Gabriel has also scored one goal for Lille this season.
The 22-year-old has a very bright future in French football and could go on to become a world-class centre-back someday. He has represented the Brazilian national team at various youth levels but is yet to earn his first senior cap for his country.
It is no secret that the Gunners have struggled a lot defensively throughout this Premier League campaign so they can benefit from acquiring the services of Gabriel next summer.
What Will The Brazilian Centre-Back Bring To The Emirates Stadium?
Even though Gabriel lacks the pace to cover a lot of ground at the back, he makes up for it through his incredible physical presence that makes him a commanding presence inside his own penalty box. He is quite aggressive in the way he approaches the game and can make some vital clearances for his side.
The acquisition of Gabriel could prove to be a massive coup for Mikel Arteta as he needs a strong physical presence at the heart of his defence in North London. The likes of Sokratis Papastathopoulos, David Luiz, Callum Chambers, Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding have all struggled to find consistency in terms of their performances this season. At the same time, the jury is still out on Pablo Marí, who made a switch from Flamengo last month.
Arteta needs a massive overhaul at the Emirates Stadium if he wants to take Arsenal back to the UEFA Champions League in the coming years. Hence, adding a player of Gabriel’s potential could prove to be a shrewd move for the Gunners in the long-run.
