Arsenal target Gabriel Magalhaes scores incredible training goal
Arsenal looked at signing two players before settling for Lille star Gabriel Magalhaes, reports say. The Gunners are poised to announce the arrival of the Brazilian soon. And they’ve beaten competition from Manchester United and Everton to bring the 22-year-old to the Emirates Stadium.
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Disasi made 27 appearances for Reims last term and sparkled in Ligue 1, but has since joined Monaco.
And free agent Sarr is poised to join Chelsea, with the Blues confident both he and Thiago Silva will sign on the dotted line as they seek a title challenge next time out.
The report claims Gabriel was the name at the top of the Arsenal scouts’ list that was submitted to the Gunners hierarchy, just like William Saliba 12 months ago.
And Arsenal now hope the pair can strike up a strong partnership at the back, with the likes of Sokratis, Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers all facing uncertain futures in the capital.
French football expert Jonathan Johnson thinks Gabriel and Saliba can be the Gunners’ centre-back pairing for the next decade, saying: "It would be a pairing of two very good, very promising central defensive talents and potentially a partnership which could serve Arsenal for the best part of the next 10 years.
"Saliba's season with Saint-Etienne was mixed, obviously the Ligue 1 season was brought to a premature close because of the COVID crisis, he had a few injuries as well and it was a shame he was not granted the chance to play in the Coupe de France final before finishing his loan spell, it would have been a good way for him to go.
"But he's shown when he plays he has a lot of talent, a lot of potential, he is fulfilling quite a bit of that already, he has impressive maturity for his age, and I think he would pair well with Gabriel.
"Both will take a bit of time to get used to the Premier League but both are tailor-made for Premier League football.
“I do not think that process would take as long as it would with other foreign players.
"I do not think [Gabriel] can be held up as the absolute solution to Arsenal's defensive issues, but he could go a long way alongside someone like William Saliba to solving some of those headaches.
"He's a very talented guy, physical, he's strong, he's got good technique, he's made for the Premier League. He would be a good addition if Arsenal can pull it off."
Gabriel will not make his debut in Saturday's Community Shield against Liverpool as he will have to quarantine for two weeks upon his arrival in England due to coronavirus regulations.
But he’ll be Arsenal’s second signing from Lille in 12 months.
The Gunners landed Nicolas Pepe from the Ligue 1 side last term, paying £72million to secure his signature.
Yet the forward disappointed, scoring just five goals from 31 Premier League matches.