Arsenal could potentially be reconsidering their stance on selling key defender Gabriel Magalhaes towards the end of the transfer window, provided they secure a suitable replacement.
The partnership between the Brazilian defender and William Saliba played a crucial role in Arsenal’s title push during the 2022-23 season, earning Gabriel recognition as one of the Premier League’s top defenders.
However, Gabriel has found himself on the bench at the start of the new season, making only cameo appearances in Arsenal’s matches against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.
In Arsenal’s revamped system, Thomas Partey has been occupying a hybrid right-back role, with Ben White and Saliba forming the central defensive pairing. Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu were given opportunities against Forest and Palace, respectively.
Due to Timber’s injury and Tomiyasu’s suspension, Gabriel could potentially reclaim his spot in the starting XI against Fulham this weekend. However, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko are also viable options for defensive changes.
Arteta recently clarified that Gabriel’s benching had no connection to speculations surrounding his future, reaffirming his belief in the defender’s importance to the team.
Despite this, according to the Daily Mail, Arsenal might be open to Gabriel’s departure under certain circumstances. Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad are reportedly interested in securing Gabriel’s services, while a move to Real Madrid has also been mentioned, especially with Eder Militao’s absence due to an ACL injury.
While the possibility of Gabriel remaining in North London appears most likely, the report suggests that if Arsenal identify a defender they consider an upgrade over the Brazilian, they would allow him to leave.
Arsenal executives have reportedly shown interest in Crystal Palace center-back Marc Guehi. However, Palace has set a hefty £60m price tag on Guehi, making a deal challenging to finalize at this late stage.
Palace’s interest in Tomiyasu could spark discussions regarding a potential part-exchange deal, but Arsenal has ruled out Tomiyasu’s departure following Timber’s unfortunate injury.
In 2020, Arsenal outbid several other clubs to secure Gabriel’s signature from Lille. He has since made 121 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 11 goals and providing one assist across all competitions.
Furthermore, Gabriel recently signed a contract extension with Arsenal in October, tying him to the club until the end of the 2026-27 season. This places Arsenal in a strong negotiating position.
Irrespective of Gabriel’s future, Arsenal is reportedly aiming to raise approximately £100m through player sales in the upcoming week. Players such as Rob Holding, Folarin Balogun, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares, Cedric Soares, and Nicolas Pepe are said to be potential departures.
During this summer, Arsenal has already completed the sales of Granit Xhaka, Matt Turner, Pablo Mari, and Auston Trusty. Additionally, Ainsley Maitland-Niles was released upon the expiration of his contract.