Arsenal: Mikel Arteta says he’s ‘positive’ about the future
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are "pretty positive" Gabriel Magalhaes will join the club in the coming days - but admits the final stages of any transfer are "not as easy as it looks".
The Gunners have agreed a £22million deal with Lille for Gabriel that could eventually rise to £27m.
The 22-year-old centre-half will help improve an Arsenal defence that leaked 48 goals in 38 Premier league games last term.
Only Burnley (50) and Chelsea (54) had worse defensive records of the top 10 teams in the English top flight as Arsenal slumped to an eighth-placed finish, their worst standing at the end of a season since 1994-95.
But with highly-rated young Frenchman William Saliba having arrived at the Emirates after a season-long loan and Gabriel set to join, Arteta will hope his side have a much stronger spine next term.
The Spanish coach insists the Brazilian is "the right profile" for Arsenal's style of play, as he looks to build a side comfortable with playing out from the back like Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Gabriel to Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals one worry as £27m transfer announcement imminent (Image: GETTY)
And an announcement of the South American's acquisition is expected in the coming days as Arsenal prepare to kick off their 2020-21 campaign against Liverpool at Wembley in the Community Shield on Saturday.
But Arteta was keen to point out that it is not over the line just yet, saying: "We are trying to finalise a deal. That's what I can tell you at the moment.
"When we get it I will be very pleased. You all know that he's a player that we've followed for a long time and hopefully we can get it done.
"We're very determined that it was the right profile for us to improve our squad.
"If we are able to finalise it, we will be delighted.
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Gabriel to Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals one worry as £27m transfer announcement imminent (Image: GETTY)
“Everything is OK when both parties sign, the club and the player agrees the terms and he goes through the medical.
"Sometimes that in the last final stages is not as easy as it looks, but again we are pretty positive that we can do it."
Gabriel to Arsenal: Mikel Arteta reveals one worry as £27m transfer announcement imminent (Image: GETTY)
"He's been training really hard," the manager said of the defender, who could make his competitive debut against Liverpool.
"He stayed here in London to do a better preparation and you can tell he looks ready.
"There are a lot of things that are new for him and he will need to adapt but certainly he has the right qualities for this football club and the right attitude to keep improving and showing the player he can be for our future."