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Valencia on brink of signing Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista

Gabriel was seen touching base in Valencia aeroplane terminal with his family on Thursday evening (17 August) and reportedly the Spanish club are ready to confirm the deal.

By Aveek Chakraborty
Arsenal's Gabriel, left, controls the ball as Sutton United's Bedsente Gomis watches on

Bengaluru, August 18: Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista is closing in on a return to Spain, with Valencia as the potential destination, according to reports.

Gabriel was seen touching base in Valencia aeroplane terminal with his family on Thursday evening (17 August) and reportedly the Spanish club are ready to confirm the deal ahead of their season-opener against Las Palmas on Saturday(19 August).

He is expected to undergo his medical tests this week and sign a three-year deal after the two clubs agreed on the transfer in the region of £10million.

The Brazilian defender is at present sidelined with a knee injury but the Spanish club are ready to take a risk as they believed the damage won't hold up the move.

Gabriel joined the Gunners in January 2015 for £13.5m but failed to hold down a first-team position, as he only made 37 Premier League appearances in the last two years and his only goal came against Bournemouth 11 months after his entry.

In spite of changing to a 3-4-2-1 formation last season, Wenger regarded the defender surplus to necessities given Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi, Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac all are ahead of him in the pecking order.

And to gain more game time, the defender decided to return to Spain and this time with Valencia. Gabriel will now rejoin with his previous manager Marcelino at Valencia under whom he worked at his previous club Villarreal before he joined Arsenal in 2015.

Paulista's exit could be the first of many departures in this transfer window at Arsenal with Arsene Wenger quick to lessen the extent of his squad. He is expected to be followed through the exit door by Carl Jenkinson, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Calum Chambers.

Story first published: Friday, August 18, 2017, 15:03 [IST]
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