Barcelona are intent on signing Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes this summer with the Gunners identifying three players who could go the other way.
The central defender was signed from Lille in the summer of 2020 and has been a regular under Mikel Arteta, clocking up 62 first-team appearances for the Gunners. This campaign, the Brazilian has formed a formidable central defensive partnership with Ben White – with the highly-rated youngster William Saliba loaned out again this season to Marseille.
Gabriel was at fault for both goals Arsenal conceded in the first half in last week’s defeat at Crystal Palace as they found themselves 2-0 down at the break. Wilfried Zaha's penalty would secure a 3-0 win for the hosts, a damaging setback for the Gunners in their race with Tottenham to finish in the top four – with the defender appearing to ignore advice from Arteta.
The 24-year-old plays on the left-sided role in the centre of defence and a report from Diario Sport claims Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez is pressing the club to make a summer move for the player. The club are said to be keen to make up for the expected exits of Clement Lenglet and Samuel Umtiti this summer.
Gerard Pique is ageing but Barca do appear to be well-stocked in that position with Ronald Araujo, Oscar Mingueza and Eric Garcia also in that position while they already have a deal in place to sign Andreas Christensen as a free agent from Chelsea. However, relations are said to be excellent between Barca and Arsenal – following the move of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January.
The same report claims that Arsenal have identified three players who are on Barca’s books who could make the switch from the Camp Nou. The most notable name on that list is Netherlands international Memphis Depay – the former Manchester United forward who moved to the Blaugrana from Lyon as a free agent last summer.
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The arrivals of Aubameyang and Ferran Torres have pushed the Dutchman further down the pecking order at Xavi’s squad. Memphis would add a major attacking threat to the Gunners depleted attacking ranks – Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are the only recognised strikers on their books.
The other two Barca players who have been mentioned in a potential swap deal are goalkeeper Neto and central midfielder Riqui Puig – for whom there has been a great clamour online among the Catalan club’s fanbase, but who has not been able to force his way into the first-team plans at the club under several different managers. It remains to be seen if this deal could come to fruition although it appears unlikely that Arsenal would sanction Gabriel’s exit without a particularly tempting arrangement in place.
