Arsenal are considering a summer move for Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes, according to reports.
Gabriel has played 29 times for the French club this season and is believed to have caught the attention of both the Gunners and Everton with his performances.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are currently monitoring the 22-year-old after making enquiries about the Brazilian in January.
The publication reports that the North London club could make a move in the summer but have been warned that they will have to pay a significant sum.
Although Gabriel cost the Ligue 1 side just £1.5million in 2017, it is claimed that Lille President Gerard Lopez is expected to hold out for a fee of around £30m, based on the £27m Arsenal spent on St Etienne defender William Saliba last summer.
Lille are under no pressure to sell the highly-rated Brazilian after he recently signed a new deal which lasts until 2023.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made bolstering his defence a priority during the January transfer window after several injury problems and completed loan deals for Flamengo centre-back Pablo Mari and Southampton right-back Cedric Soares.
However, reports in France have claimed that Arteta only turned to Mari, 26, after failing in their attempts to sign Gabriel.
The Sun also reports that technical director Edu contacted Lille over the possibility of signing the 22-year-old on loan with the view to a permanent deal, only to see his approach turned down by the Ligue 1 club.
Nevertheless, Arteta insisted that he was happy with the business he was able to do before the transfer window closed last week.
The Spaniard said: "We found two players who we believe can be very useful to improve our squad with the resources we had. We are happy with what we have done.
"[Soares] has big experience, he has played in different countries, he knows what it means. He was very willing to go to another top club, he has the desire and the commitment.
"I followed him a few seasons ago and I really like what he can bring. There were the right conditions for us as well to try to improve the squad."
On Mari, Arteta added: "For me [Mari] is very important. He balances what I want to do from the backline. He gives us more options and solutions, he opens up the pitch more.
"Again he's a player we have been following for the last few months, one that we are happy to have."
