Arsenal will reportedly demand €40 million for in-demand defender Gabriel Magalhaes with Juventus keen on signing the Brazilian.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus will have to pay €40 million for Gabriel Magalhaes, with Arsenal considering selling the defender. However, the Brazilian centre-back remains one of the most influential players in Mikel Arteta’s squad, and the latest story could be originating from the Italian media.
Arsenal are a team in transition and continue to build their squad to Mikel Arteta’s specifications. Gabriel Magalhaes was one of the Spaniard’s first-ever signings as the Arsenal manager, and the Brazilian is viewed as a critical player in the club’s plans.
Arsenal fans are convinced there i0s no chance that the Brazilian will leave the club despite plenty of relatable movements in central defence this summer. The fact that Arsenal are trying to sign Lisandro Martinez has become the talking point about Gabriel’s future, and the return of William Saliba also cast doubts over the former Lille star’s place in the side.
However, Arteta sees Gabriel as an essential part of the squad, and after last season’s performances, there is no doubt that Gabriel will start the season alongside Ben White at the heart of the Arsenal defence. Saliba and possibly Martinez would be quality backup options as things stand.
— Gabriel Magalhaes (@biel_m04) June 10, 2022
Yet, the view from Italy is quite contrasting as the links with Inter Milan and Juventus continue to persist. The Bianconeri have been monitoring the Arsenal defender since the end of last season, intending to sign him as a replacement for Giorgio Chiellini.
The Serie A giants have an even more pressing need to sign a quality centre-back as Chelsea are increasingly confident of signing Matthijs de Ligt. If Juventus sell the Dutchman for good money, they might be eager to reinvest a significant chunk of it in top target Gabriel.
The report claims that Arsenal would be willing to sell Gabriel for around €40 million, which is still considered expensive from Juventus’s perspective. Nonetheless, the Serie A giants could be ready to invest in the 24-year-old, who still has plenty of room for development.
However, as things stand, Arsenal may not sanction a sale, for the Brazilian holds a key position in the side. Instead, there were whispers that the Gunners were planning on offering Gabriel a new deal, even though he still has three years left on his current contract.
The Italian media also claim the Brazilian’s new agent Giuliano Bertolucci, could be vital in determining the Arsenal defender’s future, considering the representative’s good relations with Juventus. For now, selling Gabriel cannot be anticipated, and Arsenal will certainly demand more than €40 million for their star defender. Furthermore, Juventus may have to look elsewhere to replace de Ligt if the Dutchman joins Chelsea this summer.
