EXCLUSIVE: Gabriel position at Arsenal in doubt as Calafiori deal close

Steve Kay

Updated: 23 Jul 2024 10:52 BST
3 min read

Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal — © IMAGO

The expected signing of Riccardo Calafiori could significantly impact Gabriel Magalhaes' role in the Arsenal team, FootballTransfers understands.

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The Gunners are on the verge of securing the signature of top defensive target Calafiori after a protracted saga. Arsenal had swiftly agreed terms with the Italian, but talks eventually ground to a halt due to disagreements over his cost.

In recent days, however, a breakthrough was finally reached and Arsenal are now set to pay just €40 million upfront and €5m in add-ons for the 22-year-old, with 50 per cent of the profits generated by Bologna owed to Basel - a sticking point during the negotiations.

Arsenal are adding a versatile defender to their ranks and while Calafiori is primarily a left-back by trade, many experts in Italy believe he excels as a left-sided centre-back in a back three or four.

Club sources suggest that this flexibility could threaten the position of starting centre-back Gabriel if Calafiori impresses or if manager Mikel Arteta prefers the newcomer's style.

Gabriel dropped in the past

Arteta has already shown his willingness to make bold decisions by surprisingly dropping Gabriel from the starting lineup for the first three games of last season.

This unexpected move came amidst reports of interest from Saudi clubs, leading to speculation that the defender's head was turned by potential lucrative offers.

Additionally, Arteta demonstrated his ruthless streak by dropping Aaron Ramsdale, Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper, in favour of David Raya.

This move highlighted Arteta's commitment to optimising team performance and making tough decisions, regardless of a player's status or past performances.

At this point, it is not certain that Calafiori will directly displace Gabriel. Arteta will assess his defensive options in pre-season and then make a decision, with Jurrien Timber also vying for a starting spot in the side.

Calafiori's presence undeniably adds competition and tactical options for Arteta, which could influence Gabriel's standing in the team.