Arsenal are keeping tabs on Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, according to The Athletic. The website says Mikel Arteta is keen on strengthening his defensive options in January and the 22-year-old is one of the names being looked at.
However, there could be a major stumbling block in any move going ahead. The defender is due to play for Brazil’s Under 23s at the end of the month as his national side look to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
With Gabriel unlikely to be available for some important fixtures, the Gunners may look to other targets, but much may depend on whether the London club consider him a long-term investment.
Arsenal have struggled defensively, with Bernd Leno having only kept three clean sheets this season, and it’s likely that players such as Shkodran Mustafi will be offloaded to make room for new arrivals.
Gabriel is a former teammate of Nicolas Pepe, and if the Gunners do go after the Brazilian, they may be looking to the winger to help persuade him into moving to the Emirates.
