According to a recent report by The Guardian, Everton are confident about their chances of landing Gabriel Magalhães from LOSC Lille when the transfer window reopens later this summer. The same source has also mentioned that the Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti has identified the Brazilian defender as a key target to strengthen his defensive options ahead of the new season and is willing to make him his first signing since taking over the managerial duties at Goodison Park.
Even though the football world has come to a standstill because of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the Everton chiefs have worked hard to negotiate a deal which is believed to be in the region of £30m to bring the Ligue 1 centre-half to Merseyside (via The Guardian).
Gabriel’s Dominant Spell At The Stade Pierre Mauroy
Gabriel has emerged as a top performer for Lille over the past nine months after putting in several commanding displays at the centre of Christophe Galtier’s defence. He has taken part in 34 matches for the French outfit this term and has one goal to his name across all competitions. The Brazilian defender can be a threat from set-pieces, so it is quite a surprise that he has not netted a few more goals for Lille during this campaign.
Defensively, the 22-year-old has averaged 1.8 tackles, 1.2 interceptions and 3.3 clearances in every 90 minutes of football in the Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League this season (stats via whoscored) which highlights his incredible impact at the heart of the Lille backline.
Gabriel has also represented Brazil at the Under-20 level but is still waiting to get his first senior call-up for his nation. Maybe a switch to the Premier League could provide him with a bigger platform to showcase his talents next season so that he can catch the attention of Brazil boss, Tite ahead of the Copa America which has been delayed until the summer of 2021.
What Will The Brazilian Prospect Bring To Merseyside?
Gabriel is predominantly a centre-back but is versatile enough to act as a defensive midfielder if required. He is not shy of going to the ground to win back possession for his side. However, what makes him such a promising young defender is his ability to rapidly scan the danger and nip them in the bud by making some vital last-gasp clearances when left exposed inside his own half. The South American sensation is also quite tidy with his ball-distribution after completing 82.2% of his attempted passes in the French top-flight this season (stats via whoscored).
Gabriel will not only add some much-needed bite and steel to the Toffees defence but also increase competition for places within Ancelotti’s squad. He is one of the most exciting young talents in European football and has the potential to line up at the centre of the Everton defence for years to come as he is only getting better with each campaign.
The Goodison-outfit have currently got Yerry Mina, Michael Keane and Mason Holgate battling for a regular starting berth in Ancelotti’s first-team. Gabriel is more than capable of giving them a run for their money in the race to secure one of the centre-back slots at the blue half of Merseyside. Plus, he will also Ancelotti the freedom to play with three defenders at the back based on the quality of the opposition on a given match-day.
The Toffees are in dire need to strengthen their squad this summer if they are to close the gap to the Premier League’s big spenders in the coming seasons. Gabriel will enhance the quality of Ancelotti’s squad, which might help the Merseyside club challenge for some silverware soon. The Italian head coach can also be more flexible in terms of his team selection, tactics and formations next season if he can see out the deal to lure the Brazilian to the north-west of England this summer.
