MANCHESTER UNITED are reportedly close to signing Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes for £27million.
The Brazilian was also on Arsenal’s radar but it appears the Red Devils have pipped them to it.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is desperate to sign a long-term centre-back partner for Harry Maguire.
And it looks like they will soon have one in the shape of the 22-year-old, according to Italian outlet Napoli Magazine.
The Brazilian’s scintillating form in France has drawn admiring glances from across Europe, with Everton and Napoli also linked.
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Gabriel is expected to leave Lille in the coming weeks, with the Ligue 1 club’s owner Gerard Lopez admitting as much.
He recently told L’Equipe: “With Gabriel, we are talking and we’ve given him an exit pass. He will choose his club this week.”
The 6ft 3in defender made 34 appearances in the curtailed French 2019-20 season – including every minute of his side’s Champions League campaign.
Old Trafford chiefs are itching to land a new centre-back given that Phil Jones is expected to leave in the summer.
However, news that Chris Smalling will be returning to Old Trafford does not seem to have altered their stance.
United signed Maguire for £85million from Leicester last summer while Victor Lindelof, 26, has been at Old Trafford since 2017.
But their performances together this season have left some at United concerned and even more desperate to land a new defender.
Napoli star Kalidou Koulibaly is also on Solskjaer’s summer wishlist.
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By: William Pugh
Title: Man Utd ‘close to sealing £27m Gabriel Magalhaes transfer from Lille with defender arriving within coming days’
Sourced From: www.thesun.co.uk/sport/12315636/man-utd-gabriel-magalhaes-transfer-lille/
Published Date: Wed, 05 Aug 2020 07:01:04 +0000
