Ex-England striker Darren Bent has given his verdict on the prospect of Gabriel Magalhaes leaving Arsenal this summer.
Arsenal centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium this summer. Saudi Arabian clubs have been credited with an interest in the 25-year-old defender, as reported by The Mirror.
Gabriel has been a mainstay at the back for the Gunners for the last two seasons. He developed an impressive partnership with William Saliba in the heart of the Arsenal rearguard last season. However, Mikel Arteta has left the Brazilian out of the starting XI in each of the north London club’s Premier League matches so far.
Despite these omissions, Arteta insists that Gabriel remains a key part of his plans. It would certainly be a huge task for Arsenal to replace Gabriel, especially this late in the transfer window, if he were to depart.
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The Gunners do need to make sales, though. Given that they have so far failed to cash in on the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Folarin Balogun, Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Nuno Tavares, moving on Gabriel could be the only viable way for the club to recoup some of the funds they shelled out to bring in Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber.
Arsenal must use their investment in Gabriel wisely
Arsenal fans will be desperate to keep Gabriel. Pundit Darren Bent also doesn’t see the sense in sanctioning the player’s departure. Speaking on TalkSport, Bent said, “it’s nonsense. He won’t go anywhere. Why would he want to go to Saudi yet?…He’s been so good, Gabriel. He’s been so consistent. This would be the wrong time to leave Arsenal…transitioning in the right direction. Why would you go now?”
Arsenal paid £27 million to sign Gabriel from Lille in 2020. Whilst they could make a very decent profit on the player now, the best use of their investment in him would be to get him on the pitch where he can help Arteta’s side fight for the Premier League title.