Manchester United are reportedly monitoring the situation of Lille’s Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes, who has been linked with Napoli and Arsenal.
According to a report from the Daily Record, Manchester United have asked to be kept in the loop over the situation of Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes as manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer eyes defensive signings in the summer.
22-year-old Gabriel joined Lille from Brazilian outfit Avai FC in 2017. After a couple of loan spells at Troyes and Dinamo Zagreb II, the centre-back has become a key member of Les Dogues’ first-team over the past year or so. He finished the 2019/20 campaign with 34 appearances across all competitions, contributing with a solitary goal.
Gabriel’s exploits with Lille had seen him register on the radars of Premier League clubs Arsenal and Everton. Serie A outfit Napoli, too, are keen on the 22-year-old Brazilian as they eye a replacement for defensive mainstay Kalidou Koulibaly, who is being linked with a transfer to Liverpool and Manchester City.
However, Manchester United have also entered the race for the centre-back, as Solskjaer looks to bolster his defensive unit ahead of the next season. While the Red Devils have fared quite well defensively of late, there remain some chinks in the armour.
Captain Harry Maguire has shown that he is susceptible to mistakes every now and then, while Victor Lindelof hasn’t been able to convince despite spending three years at the club now. And with Eric Bailly’s injury record, it would make sense for the club to add another centre-half this summer.
Gabriel, to that end, would be a handy addition for Manchester United. A left-footed defender, the Brazilian would complement Maguire well at the heart of the Red Devils’ defence, while his pace and ball-playing abilities will serve the 20-time English champions well.
Gabriel’s contract with Lille runs till the summer of 2023, after he signed a new deal in February earlier this year. However, the Ligue 1 giants are open to offloading provided an offer of around €25 million comes along in the summer.
Given the amount of interest that he is generating, there is a good chance that Gabriel will be on the move in the coming weeks. Whether he will be on his way to Manchester United remains to be seen, however.
