Napoli ‘make a huge 11th-hour offer to Gabriel Magalhaes’ in a bid to snatch him from Arsenal as £22m Lille defender faces a big decision on his future
- Arsenal agreed a £22m plus add-ons deal for Gabriel Magalhaes on Tuesday
- But new reports detail how Napoli are readying a late offer to get his signature
- Gabriel, 22, has been a star performer for Lille this season and is in high demand
Arsenal’s hopes of finalising a deal for £22million-rated Lille starlet Gabriel Magalhaes are reportedly being put in jeopardy by a last-ditch attempt by Napoli.
The Serie A side have already raided Lille this summer of star attacker Victor Osimhen and Gennaro Gattuso is said to be keen to return to the French club for their 22-year-old Brazilian defender.
Sportsmail reported on Tuesday that Arsenal had agreed a deal for Gabriel but Sky Sports have now revealed that Napoli’s late offer ‘is being seriously considered’, putting Arsenal’s deal at risk of collapse.
Arsenal’s hopes of landing Lille star Gabriel Magalhaes look to be complicated by Napoli
Mikel Arteta had made the 22-year-old a priority target as he continues a defensive rebuild
Lille have said a decision will be made on his future by the end of the week.
Arsenal and Napoli can both put forward compelling cases, albeit neither can offer Champions League football for next season.
A chance to reunite with Osimhen would likely appeal to the defender in a bid to help him settle in at a new team and Arsenal now return to the drawing board to see how they can get a deal concluded.
Both teams are reported to have matched offers but it is understood the left-sided Brazilian centre back is keen to play for Mikel Arteta and link up with compatriots David Luiz and Willian.
That sentiment has been reiterated by Lille president Gerard Lopez who told Sky it would be the player’s call on where he goes.
He said: ‘We clearly told him what our expectations were, we spoke to a number of clubs, our expectations were met by a number of clubs and we have given him the time to decide.
‘It is going to be entirely his decision. We tend to try and steer our players in certain directions, but at the end of the day it’s the player’s decision.’
More to follow.
