Gabriel completes Arsenal medical ahead of £27m transfer but Napoli plot last-minute hijack of Lille defender

GABRIEL MAGALHAES is on the brink of joining Arsenal after undergoing his medical.

The Gunners agreed a fee with Lille believed to be in the region of £27million for the Brazilian centre-back.

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But they face late competition from Serie A side Napoli who are plotting a last-gasp swoop of his signature.

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Arsenal remain confident they have sealed the switch and will hope to have the 22-year-old ready for their Premier League curtain-raiser on September 12.

Although he may be forced to undergo a 14-day quarantine with France recently put on the Government's "unsafe" list.

Unless he can get an exemption, that would mean the Brazilian would not be able to meet up with his team-mates until early September.

Arsenal's season starts on August 29 with the Community Shield against Liverpool before facing Fulham two weeks later.

Boss Mikel Arteta will look to sell a couple of defenders after Gabriel pens his expected five-year contract.

Rob Holding and Calum Chambers are both on the transfer list while Matteo Guendouzi is also up for grabs.

Lille owner Gerard Lopez told talkSPORT the defender is considering either Arsenal or Napoli.

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He said: "I think he has narrowed it down. I think it is far to say that Arsenal are high interest to him. Napoli is high interest to him.

"I don't think I am giving up too much if I tell you that choice is gonna be made probably between today or tomorrow.

"We've told him where we think he should go."