Arsenal are pushing to agree a deal for Lille centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes, as the Gunners step up their summer transfer plans.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is desperate to strengthen his backline ahead of his first full season in north London, and Gabriel has been identified as the ideal signing.
football.london understands talks have been ongoing for weeks between the two clubs, although the player is yet to indicate a firm decision on his next destination, with Serie A side Napoli also keen.
The 22-year-old was left out of the Lille squad for their pre-season friendly against AZ Alkmaar at the weekend, prompting further talk that he could indeed be on his way to the Emirates Stadium in the coming weeks.
His father also appeared to drop a hint on social media, after liking a Instagram post that reported that a deal was close.
Speaking to Sky Sports over the weekend, Lille president Gerard Lopez confirmed that the Ligue 1 club are ready to let the centre-back leave this summer.
"He is one of the players that we allowed to exit the club this summer, he asked for it and wants to try something else," he said.
"We clearly told him what our expectations were, we spoke to a number of clubs, our expectations were met by a number of clubs and we have given him the time to decide.
"It is going to be entirely his decision. We tend to try and steer our players in certain directions, but at the end of the day it's the player's decision. I know he is going to make a decision early next week.
"He is a super guy and a great football player and he wants to play, there has been a lot of interest but we have clearly decided to close the door to further clubs at this stage and let him choose."
If the defender does seal a move to north London, all eyes will turn to what shirt number the Brazilian will wear in the red and white of Arsenal.
The defender has worn the number four for the last two seasons after breaking into the Lille first team, but he would not be able to take the same shirt at Arsenal, as William Saliba has been confirmed as the club's new no.4.
After joining the Gunners last summer, Saliba was immediately loaned back to Saint-Etienne for the 2019/20 season to continue his development.
However, before heading back to France, Saliba hadn't been allocated a squad number.
That has now been rectified after Arsenal recently confirmed that Saliba will wear the no.4 from next season.
The shirt number was previously midfielder Mohamed Elneny's, but the Egyptian has agreed to move to no.25 in order to vacate it for Saliba.
