Arsenal look set to complete the signing of another Brazilian, with Lille defender Gabriel all set for a move to North London.
The Gunners have already brought in Willian this summer, but another Brazilian is joining him as Gabriel prepares to have his move confirmed.
The London Evening Standard claim that Gabriel is due in London inside the next 48 hours, with Arsenal paying £25million for him.
Gabriel, 22, enjoyed a great season in France with Lille, emerging as one of the top young left-footed centre backs in Europe, which is exactly why Mikel Arteta wants him.
It’s worth noting that Gabriel was farmed out on loan to Troyes under Marcelo Bielsa, and then to Dinamo Zagreb in 2018 as Lille seemingly didn’t think he was ready.
The Times now claim that Gabriel returned to Lille having studied footage of Kalidou Koulibaly and Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk, as he ‘greatly admires’ both players.
That seemed to help Gabriel go from a prospect to a first-team mainstay for Lille, and he now has the chance to become a Premier League star just like Van Dijk.
Gabriel of course has a long way to go; Van Dijk is arguably the top centre back in the world right now, and has been the leader of Liverpool’s title-winning back line.
Yet if Arsenal can develop Gabriel into that calibre of player, then the £25million outlay will prove to be an absolute bargain – and give the Gunners a star centre back for years to come.
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