Barcelona have discussed the prospect of offering three players to Arsenal in exchange for centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, as reported by Metro.
The Catalan giants hope to continue their ambitious recruitment drive following Xavi’s appointment last November, as they look to climb back at Europe’s top table.
According to a report by Sport, Barcelona are on the lookout for a left-footed central defender and Gabriel could be the man of the hour.
Gabriel’s campaign With Arsenal So Far
The central midfielder has averaged 1.2 tackles with 0.4 interceptions for Arsenal on all fronts this season. Having a passing accuracy of 88.5% and over 56.7 average passes per game shows his ability to distribute the ball to his teammates. Further, he has scored 3 goals in all competitions this season. (stats via Whoscored)
Gabriel has brought 13 clean sheets to Arsenal over 27 Premier League appearances. Although, he remains weak in aerial duels, which he has to improve further being a central defender.
How Will The Swap-Transfer Play Out For Barcelona?
Barcelona have discussed sending Memphis Depay, Riqui Puig and Neto in the exchange offer with Gabriel. They are also ready to offload Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti, as both have fallen down the pecking order.
Barcelona’s new lucrative £235million Spotify sponsorship deal has given them extra leverage in the transfer market, while the board is also being mindful to lay off fringe players to balance the books, contrary to how overspending recently left them crippled financially.
Following Xavi’s appointment, the Catalan giants have already bought Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang, Ferran Torres and Adama Traore on loan, in the last transfer window. Xavi has prioritised bolstering their defence by the end of this season to challenge the likes of Real Madrid and others.
If the deal happens to take place, Barcelona will have a significant financial boost as they are looking to sell off a number of players to sort out their financial mess.
