Key Arsenal defender being sold is not an option despite Saudi interest
By Evan Curnew
As The Top Flight has covered earlier, Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes is being linked with a move away from the Emirates. Real Madrid was one team coined as a possible destination for the defender, but teams in Saudi Arabia are also watching Gabriel’s situation at Arsenal. Despite starting against Manchester City in the Community Shield, Gabriel Magalhaes has not started in either of Arsenal’s first two Premier League matches. In what will be great news for Arsenal fans, it looks like the Gunners have zero interest in selling the Brazilian centre-back.
Arsenal are not entertaining offers for Gabriel Magalhaes
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Arsenal have “no intention” to sell Gabriel Magalhaes this transfer window. Romano reveals that Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad was interested in signing Gabriel, but the London-based club have put their foot down on the rumours surrounding the player’s future at the club. Gabriel still has four years left on his current contract, and thus the club is under zero pressure to fold to interest from abroad in the defender.
With Declan Rice and Kai Havertz both joining the Gunners, it has pushed midfielder Thomas Partey to the right-back position. In a corresponding move, Ben White has pushed back over the centre of the defence, where he regularly featured with Brighton before his move to North London. With Champions League football ahead for the Gunners, Gabriel Magalhaes will surely get his start, but it is interesting nonetheless that Arteta is benching a player who started every single Premier League game for him last season.
Gabriel has been established as one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League and has really come into his own in the last couple of seasons. The Brazilian has received his first call-up for Selecao as they take on Peru and Bolivia in World Cup qualifiers in September.