Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr are planning a bid for Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, and they’ve already made contact with the Arsenal defender, according to a report.
EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS - MARCH 04: Declan Rice of Arsenal celebrates victory with teammate Gabriel after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between PSV and Arsenal FC at PSV Stadion on March 04, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
GiveMeSport journalist Ben Jacobs reports that Al-Nassr plan to bid for Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes this summer, and they’ve already been in contact with the player himself.
Incoming Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta will continue to push Gabriel to sign a new contract with Arsenal, who are keen to keep the player in north London.
But Al-Nassr are ready to make a serious attempt to lure the Brazilian away.
Arsenal's Brazilian defender #06 Gabriel Magalhaes walks on the pitch during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 31, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images
Sami Mokbel reported for the BBC last week that Arsenal had already held some contract talks with Gabriel, whose contract expires in 2027. Mokbel confirmed that the 27-year-old has interest from Saudi Arabia in that same report.
Charles Watts wrote in September that Arsenal had started the process of trying to extend Gabriel’s contract. At the time, Watts clarified that discussions were still at quite an early stage, as evidenced by the fact they’re still ongoing six months later.
Another factor could be the 27-year-old’s excellent form, both defensively and with his five goals this season. There’s an argument that the player has raised his stock since talks began, which may have affected negotiations.
LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 16: Gabriel of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Emirates Stadium on March 16, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Gabriel has already made 41 appearances for Arsenal in 2024/25, and that figure is only likely to rise as we reach the business end of the season.
On that front, it was good for Arsenal (if not for Gabriel himself) that he was forced to pull out of the March international break early through a yellow-card suspension. He’ll now have over a week to rest up before the final stretch of Arsenal matches begins.
Related Posts