Mikel Arteta is feeling "pretty positive" about Arsenal's chances of concluding a deal for Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes and is excited by the prospect of signing the Brazilian.
Gabriel, 22, has been strongly linked with Arsenal for several weeks following an impressive season in Ligue 1, with reports suggesting an agreement on a €30million (£27.7m) move is close.
Arsenal had defensive issues for much of the 2019-20 campaign and always appeared destined to invest in reinforcements – and Gabriel looks certain to be the next new face to arrive at the club.
Although still somewhat inexperienced, Arteta is thrilled that a switch for the centre-back is close to completion.
"Regarding Gabriel, we cannot announce anything yet, the deal is not finalised - you all know he is a player that we have followed for a long time and hopefully we can get it done," Arteta told reporters on Thursday ahead of the Community Shield clash with Liverpool.
"Everything is okay once both parties sign, and the player agrees the terms and he goes through the medical - sometimes that, in the final stages, is not as easy as it looks, but we are pretty positive that we can do it.
