MAN UTD JOIN ARSENAL IN RACE FOR BRAZILIAN STAR


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Manchester United have attempted to make a last-minute ditch to hijack Arsenal's move for Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes. The Brazilian enjoyed a fruitful 2019-2020 campaign, playing 34 times and helping his team to a fourth-place finish in the French topflight.
Gabriel has been attracting interest from across Europe. Lille president Gerard Lopez has confirmed he will be departing the club, he stated that he will not be playing for the club in the 2020-2021 campaign. Amid the rush of speculation that met this revelation, it was revealed earlier this week that the Gunners had won the race for his signature.
According to a report from Gianluca di Marzio, Manchester United have joined and remain in the hunt. United are said to have tabled a rival bid for the defender in a bid to topple what the Gunners have offered. United spent a world-record fee on a centre-back Harry Maguire last season but there are still questions asked of his partnership with Victor Lindelof.
Aside having two offers from Premier League sides, Gabriel also has interest from Champions League finalists Paris-Saint Germain. While Napoli are also hoping to convince him to ditch a move to England and join them. He has been considered as the direct replacement of Kalidou Koulibaly, who seems set on a move to Manchester City in the near future. Napoli are stalling the deal because they are yet to receive an official bid for the Senegal international.
Former Liverpool defender Jamier Carragher can understand the huge interest in Gabriel. Carragher who likened the Brazilian with former Reds teammate Daniel Agger believes he has all the quality to thrive in the premier league.
The fee involved is believed to be just over £20 million – a fee that appears to represent excellent value. The Gunners will be hoping that Gabriel will help them to improve their defensive record, which was terrible last season.