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Arsenal 'to offload defenders after securing Gabriel Magalhaes deal'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 02 September 2020

Arsenal 'to offload defenders after securing Gabriel deal'

Arsenal will attempt to offload some of their first-team defenders before the end of the summer window, according to a report.

Arsenal will reportedly attempt to offload some of their first-team defenders in the coming weeks, having finally agreed a deal to sign Brazilian centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes from Lille.

Gabriel's arrival has boosted Mikel Arteta's options at the back, while the Gunners can also call upon William Saliba during the 2020-21 campaign with the 19-year-old officially arriving at the club.

According to the Evening Standard, the London giants will now look to balance the books and could offload as many as four first-team defenders before the end of the transfer window.

The report claims that Rob Holding and Sokratis Papastathopoulos are both expected to leave, while Sead Kolasinac could be on his way out in the coming weeks.

Hector Bellerin is also said to be attracting interest from Paris Saint-Germain and could be sold to the French champions in order to raise additional transfer funds.

Newcastle United are thought to be the favourites to sign Holding on loan, while Napoli are allegedly expressing an interest in bringing Sokratis to Serie A, having missed out on Gabriel to Arsenal.