Lille president Gerard Lopez has confirmed the wheels are in motion for defender Gabriel to leave the club this summer.
Brazilian defender Gabriel has had a light-speed rise to prominence with French Ligue 1 side Lille.
The 22-year-old center back only arrived from Avai in Brazil back in 2017. He spent six months on loan with French side Troyes and then another brief spell in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb.
He then spent two seasons battling it out for a place in the Ligue 1 side’s starting 11. That breakthrough came this season, and it has seen him set alarm bells ringing with some of Europe’s elite.
Arsenal and Manchester United are said to be front runners.
The Gunners have a great working relationship with Lille and know the way the club operates following the likes of Nicolas Pepe’s arrival last summer.
Gabriel fits the bill perfectly at United. Being left-footed and youthful he is the ideal partner for Harry Maguire.
Ultimately it will come down to who pays up. Lille president Gerard Lopez makes no bones about the fact that his club is one who has survived and prospered by selling players.
Speaking to BBC World Service’s World Football, he admits the player will leave sooner or later.
Lopez said:
“The way we work is very simple.”
“We explain to him and his environment, his agent, what we are looking for, and once we get those offers the choice is his, like we did with Nico Pepe and Victor Osimhen.”
“We are there now, so we told him, ‘Eventually you have to make a decision but we’re not pressing you.’ I think he will make it this week, or next week at the latest.”
“He is leaving, we’ve given the OK for that.”
Lopez admits Lille will try and advise the player to help his career as well as their own bank balance.
He added:
“There’s a lot of competition. He’s a young player so he’s got to make sure he makes the right decision. We help him out a little bit so we tell him: ‘We think this might be the right manager or club for you.’
“He’s got so much talent, he will succeed wherever he goes.”
Is this the right man for United?
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