Arsenal 'enter race with Manchester United to sign £25m-rated Lille centre back Gabriel Magalhaes'

Arsenal have joined Manchester United in the race to sign highly-rated Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes, according to reports.

The 22-year-old is on the radar of several elite European clubs this summer with Arsenal among them - although it is believed the Gunners are yet to follow up their interest with a concrete offer.

Lille are yet to decide where Magalhaes' future lies beyond the transfer window, Goal report, with the centre back weighing up his options ahead of his potential big move.

Indications from France suggested that Magalhaes had already decided to join Mikel Arteta's revolution at Arsenal, but the same Goal report has played down the speculation and insists that the player is yet to make a choice.

The Ligue 1 outfit are thought to have demanded a £25million fee to part with one of their most prized assets.

Arsenal's successful prior business with Lille may hand them an advantage in negotiations. The £72million move that brought Nicolas Pepe to the Emirates in a club-record switch strengthened the relationship between both clubs.

Raul Sanllehi, Arsenal's head of football, and Lille chief executive Marc Ingla worked together at Barcelona - and this may once again result in a positive deal being brokered for the North London side.

Arteta remains keen to strengthen in defence despite leading the team to FA Cup glory. William Saliba, signed last summer from Saint-Etienne, has already joined the club after spending the season in France.

The future of several Arsenal centre backs have been thrown into doubt, and players will need to depart in order to raise funds for new arrivals. Goal believe Rob Holding, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis have been placed on the transfer list.

But the Old Trafford hierarchy have also identified Magalhaes as a potential partner to skipper Harry Maguire and United may attempt to step in ahead of their top flight rivals.

There remain question marks over Victor Lindelof and Eric Bailly's injury woes have forced the club's hand.

Everton, meanwhile, are also keen on Magalhaes. A medical with the club was reportedly held before the lockdown was introduced in the UK, but the Brazil Under-20s international appears to be keeping his options open.

The defender made 24 appearances for Lille this season before the French top flight was brought to an early halt.