Arsenal 'beat Manchester United to transfer of Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista'

Posted Saturday, January 24, 2015 by Metro.co.uk

Gabriel Paulista looks set to sign for Arsenal

Arsenal have reportedly fended off late competition from Manchester United to land Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista.

The Gunners have been in discussions with the La Liga side throughout the month for the Brazilian defender, but a recent report claimed that United were planning to hijack the move for the 24-year-old.

However, Arsenal appear to have won the race to land the £15million-rated centre-back, with respected Spanish publication Marca claiming the deal is just hours away from completion.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger took the unusual step of confirming interest in Gabriel earlier this week after telling reporters at his press conference that talks were at an advanced stage.

Wenger said: 'The talks are progressing quite well. I don't think there's a need to say much more. We are talking at the moment - can we find an agreement? I don't know.

'We are slowly progressing. There's a chance, [and I rate it] at 50/50. We are ready to pay the price for a good player. If we think it's the right price, we will pay.'

Arsene doing Diamond Club Q&A now has just said that Paulista deal virtually done, then tried to backtrack after giving too much away

— Darren (@DarrenArsenal1) January 22, 2015

The long-serving Frenchman held a supporters' Q&A meeting on Thursday night and reliable Arsenal shareholder, Darren Epstein, tweeted that Wenger claimed a deal for Gabriel was near to completion.

He tweeted: 'Arsene doing Diamond Club Q&A now has just said that Paulista deal virtually done, then tried to backtrack after giving too much away.'

The arrival of Gabriel would be Arsenal's second signing of the transfer window after they wrapped up a deal for Polish teenager Krystian Bielik on Wednesday.