Napoli have agreed on a deal with Lille for defender Gabriel Magalhães and have one in place with the player too, but still could be outbid for his services by Everton.
That’s according to Foot Mercato, who provide information on the sought after defender’s future courtesy of their sources.
Magalhães has impressed with Lille this season, and this has naturally earned him attention from across Europe, particularly in the Premier League.
Everton have been named among his suitors on more than one occasion and at one point appeared to have wrapped up his signature.
Indeed, the player is even believed to have undergone a medical ahead of a move, which had initially been delayed by the Coronavirus outbreak.
However, despite seemingly being at the front of the queue, a deal has not been finalised, and as a result, his other suitors have made their move.
Napoli are thought to be on the hunt for a replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly, who is widely expected to move on, and Magalhães is seen as an ideal replacement.
They have ‘basically agreed’ a €22m deal plus bonuses deal with Lille for his signature and have an agreement with the Brazilian for a five-year deal worth €2m a season.
However, ‘the matter is not set in stone yet’. Lille are in no rush to finalise a deal and see no point in doing so now, particularly with the transfer window likely to be moved by FIFA at some point.
That gives them time to wait and ‘listen to further offers’. It’s felt one of them could come from Everton, who ‘can be trusted to outbid Napoli’ if it comes to it.
It seems, though, they will have to convince Magalhães into the move. It’s been apparent for some time he’s been holding off on a move to Goodison to see if a better offer arrives.
Napoli certainly represent that given they could offer Champions League football, something Everton certainly can’t and is likely to be a significant factor in the defender’s thinking.
