BIG GABI TRANSFER UPDATE:Arsenal decide Gabriel Magalhaes price tag as Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr plot bid

Arsenal are braced for an approach from Saudi Arabia but are unwilling to part ways with star Gabriel Magalhaes without receiving a world-record fee for a defender. Manchester City’s Josko Gvardiol currently holds that tag after joining from RB Leipzig for £77.6million, but Arsenal have reportedly put their foot down and slapped a bigger price tag on the 27-year-old.

Gabriel has built a formidable partnership with William Saliba and is recognised as one of the top defenders in the Premier League. However, Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr side are trying to prise him out of north London with the promise of huge wages.

GiveMeSport claim that Al-Nassr are planning an ambitious move for Gabriel and have already made an initial approach to the player. They are willing to triple his current Arsenal wages and offer him a salary in the region of £16m tax-free to leave England.

Gabriel is currently only focusing on Arsenal and while new sporting director Andrea Berta will pick up talks over extending the Brazilian’s contract, they will consider offers starting from £83m.

The club’s preference is for Gabriel to sign a new contract, with his current deal expiring in 2027, but may be powerless to resist if a Saudi Pro League side do meet their valuation.

It is not the first time that the player has received interest from the Middle East and he lost his place in the team during the previous saga, with Mikel Arteta opting for a brief change in his back-four configuration to begin the 2023/24 season. But Gabriel was restored swiftly and has since been a cornerstone of the defence.

“It was tough, obviously at the start, I wanted to play and it was very difficult for me but I understood what the coach had to do,” Gabriel told PA after losing his place in the team. “It is difficult for any player to not be in the team but now I’m back in I want to keep on working hard to prove my worth.

“(Arteta) spoke to me and obviously explained the reasons behind the decision. Why I should stay – but the most important thing was to remain focused and concentrate – he knew how important I was to the team, so I’m happy to be back and to be able to help the team in every game.

“I’m happy to be back in the team and hopefully I can help them moving forward.”

Arsenal’s summer plans ideally do not involve looking for a new centre-back, if Gabriel is to leave, with the club focusing on getting a deal for Martin Zubimendi over the line from Real Sociedad alongside a marquee centre-forward such as Alexander Isak or Benjamin Sesko.