Charles Watts, who reports on Arsenal for Goal, spent some time talking about the Gunners’ pursuit of Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes during a video that he recently posted to his YouTube channel.
Arsenal have been linked with a move for the Brazilian throughout the current transfer window, however, clubs such as the Gunners’ fellow Premier League competitors Everton and Serie A side Napoli have also reportedly shown interest in signing the £18m-rated 22-year-old.
Watts discussed the Gunners’ chances of signing the defender during his latest YouTube video and he suggested that fans of the North London club may not have to wait much longer to see their side seal this deal.
He said: “We’re expecting a decision imminently from Gabriel. Lille made it clear to everyone who has been involved in these talks what it’s going to cost them to get Gabriel to sign for them this summer.
“Lille have been very, very open with all the clubs involved, they’ve told Gabriel he will be allowed to leave, so it’s just been a case of all the clubs that have been interested have been coming to Lille, knocking on the door, saying ‘we want him, we want to be involved in these discussions’ and Lille said ‘fine, this is what you’re going to have to pay, this is what you’re going to have to do to make sure it goes through okay.’
“Arsenal and Napoli are very much in the driving seat – have been for a while when it’s come to Gabriel – [it] looks like Everton have certainly pulled out of the running, now they’re very much aware he will not be going to Merseyside.
“Arsenal want to sign Gabriel, they’ve been involved in the discussions and now we’re approaching decision day. So, we’re expecting something to happen with Gabriel possibly this week. It’s going to become very, very clear, very, very soon whether or not he’s going to be an Arsenal player.”
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So, judging by his comments, it’s clear that Watts believes that Gunners fans can expect to find out whether or not their club have been successful in their pursuit of the Brazilian defender quite soon.
As per WhoScored, Gabriel was one of his team’s standout players in the 2019/20 Ligue 1 season, earning the fourth-highest overall rating (6.93) of any Lille player in the league last term.
According to WhoScored, the defender is strong in aerial duels and Arsenal won the fewest amount of aerial duels per game (13.5) of any Premier League side during the 2019/20 campaign, so perhaps Mikel Arteta believes that the 22-year-old can improve his side in that area and if so, then it may be understandable why Arsenal are said to have been targeting him throughout the summer.