Gabriel Magalhaes will accept an Arsenal offer to join from Lille, with Napoli unable to sign him unless they can sell Kalidou Koulibaly.

Lille's Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes (L) vies with Strasbourg's French midfielder Adrien Thomasson during the French L1 football match between Strasbourg (RCSA) and Lille (LOSC), on February 1, 2020, at the Meinau stadium in Strasbourg, eastern France. (Photo by PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP)
Lille’s Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhaes (L) vies with Adrien Thomasson on February 1, 2020. (Photo by PATRICK HERTZOG / AFP)

Sky Sport in Italy report (via Football-Italia) that Arsenal will sign Lille defender Gabriel ahead of Napoli because the Serie A side can’t finalise a deal without selling Kalidou Koulibaly first.

Lille wanted €28m for Gabriel, and both Arsenal and Napoli matched that demand. They also reportedly offered the same personal terms, leaving the decision entirely up to the player.

At this stage, Sky claim Gabriel will accept Arsenal’s offer.

Napoli saw Gabriel as a replacement for Koulibaly, so they only wanted to make a move after completing that sale.

Manchester City showed an interest, but they were only willing to offer €65m for the Senegal international, well below the €80m asking price.

Lille's Brazilian defender Gabriel dos Santos Magalhaes (R) fights for the ball with Montpellier's French forward Gaetan Laborde during the French L1 football match between Lille OSC (LOSC) and Montpellier Herault Sport Club (MHSC) at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, on December 13, 2019. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP) (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP via Getty Images)
Lille’s Brazilian defender Gabriel dos Santos Magalhaes (R) fights for the ball with Montpellier’s French forward Gaetan Laborde during the French L1 football match between Lille OSC (LOSC) and Montpellier Herault Sport Club (MHSC) at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, on December 13, 2019. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI / AFP) (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP via Getty Images)

The Telegraph report that Arsenal are closing in on the signing after agreeing terms in principle. However, they write that Napoli still believe they’re in a strong position for the signing, too.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Gabriel will decide his next club in the coming days. So not all outlets are on board that it’s a sure thing just yet.

Either way, it seems like this week is going to be crucial for the potential signing.

Lille president Gerard Lopez told the media he knows there will be a decision ‘early’ in the week. RMC reporter Mohamed Bouhafsi claimed he’ll make the call by Wednesday.

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