“There are many teams that talk about me”: the target of Arsenal and Everton Gabriel alarms the teams while the Lille defender, valued at 22 million pounds, insists that he is “ready to play at the highest levels”
- Lille defender Gabriel has opened up about his insistent future clubs who want him
- Arsenal and Everton have been connected with the Brazilian and Napoli
- Reportedly, Carlo Ancelotti has long been an admirer of Gabriele
- Mikel Arteta hopes to solve his central defensive problems, as well as Jose Mourinho
The target of Arsenal and Everton Gabriel opened the doors to leave Lille this summer.
The 22-year-old central defender is valued at £ 22 million on the Ligue 1 side after an impressive 2019-20 campaign.
The Brazilian, who has not yet earned an international senior cap, played against Chelsea in this season’s Champions League group stage and revealed that the scouts have kept an eye on him.
Lille defender Gabriel has opened up his future and insists he wants to move forward
“It’s gratifying because there are a lot of teams talking about me,” Gabriel told L’Equipe.
‘I want to go as high as possible, I came to Europe for that. England or Italy? Both are good championships.
‘I speak a lot with Luis Campos [Lille’s director of football] to see where it’s best for me because he has a lot of experience. I also speak with my agents, with Gerard Lopez, with Jose Fonte.
‘Gennaro Gattuso [Napoli’s manager] do I like myself very much? I don’t know, we haven’t talked. On the Internet, on social networks, there are many things that come out. I don’t know what’s true. I see every day “ah Gabriel goes there, then there”.
‘But in reality, we still don’t know where I’m going. Wherever I go it will be playing, being at the top, at the highest levels. And above all in a team that will allow me to go to Selecao. ‘
Selecao is the Brazilian national team which is Gabriel’s dream of playing for making four appearances for Brazil’s U20 team.
Gabriel starred in a Lille team that came fourth in Ligue 1 this term, helping them secure football in the Europa League next season and was a long term goal for Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti.
However, Napoli reportedly wiped out to conclude an agreement with the French outfit on an agreement worth £ 20 million plus bonuses according to Footmercato.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is believed to be an admirer of the defender and could sign it
Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti reportedly tracked down the young Brazilian for a long time
The report also states that the 22-year-old is also ‘thrilled’ that he has agreed on personal terms that will see him collect an annual salary of £ 1.8 million over five years.
The move is expected to continue on September 1 when the Italian transfer window opens, but despite the deal appearing to have been concluded, the Toffe still hope to seize the transfer as they seek to strengthen their defensive option this summer.
Football director Marcel Brands has been trying to land Gabriel since February.
In addition to Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal have also monitored the Brazilian’s situation in recent months.
With Jan Vertonghen preparing to leave White Hart Lane in late June, they are eager to find a replacement for the central defender, while Mikel Arteta is ready to solve their problems in central defense.
Gabriel joined Lille in 2017 after arriving from Brazil and has since made 52 appearances.
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