Manchester United are reportedly close to completing a deal for Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, according to reports in Italy.
Gabriel has attracted attention from a number of European clubs, including Premier League rivals Everton, Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain.
The 22-year-old is expected to leave the Ligue 1 club after a breakthrough season, as Lille finished fourth following the conclusion of the French top flight in April.
Recent reports revealed the Red Devils have reached out to his agent to broker a move to Old Trafford in the summer.
It’s no secret that Man United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wants to sign a centre-back to partner Harry Maguire in the heart of the defence.
Victor Lindelof has never looked particularly convincing beside the club captain, having received a low WhoScored rating of 6.71 overall. On the other hand, Eric Bailly has only managed to play 328 minutes of competitive football since recovering from a potentially career-ending injury.
The 22-year-old, who was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in the January transfer window, has found himself in the middle of a bidding war as United face stiff competition from Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
However, Italian journalist Emanuele Cammaroto claims the Red Devils are leading the race to sign the Brazilian this summer.
Writing in The Napoli Magazine, as cited by TEAMtalk, the reporter insists the two clubs could reach an agreement in the next few days.
Who should Man United sign?
Gabriel Magalhaes
Jan Vertonghen
Kalidou Koulibaly
Solskjaer seemed to reveal he wants to sign a left-footed centre-half in a conversation with Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake, although the former Chelsea ace appears to be heading for Manchester City instead.
Regardless, Gabriel fits the type of player he is looking to bring to Old Trafford in the summer.
Tall, quick and versatile, the uncapped Brazilian is a strong threat in the air who is well-disciplined as well, as WhoScored lists concentration as one of his biggest strengths.
Lapses in concentration have proven to be United’s undoing in recent weeks, as club legend Roy Keane has levelled criticism at Maguire and David de Gea for a string of high-profile mistakes.
Lille president Gerard Lopez has described Gabriel as an “absolute machine,” which is justified by his statistics this season. The Brazilian made 24 appearances in Ligue 1, scoring one goal, making 1.7 tackles and 3.3 clearances on average per game (via WhoScored).
Fans should be rest assured that he fits the requirements United need to challenge for silverware next season, but it is now all up to the board to sort out a deal in the summer.
United fans, do you think Ed Woodward should sign Gabriel? Let us know down below!
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