Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has come out to shed light concerning the capture of Lille’s central-defender Gabriel Magalhaes and the renewal of club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s contract.
In an interview ahead season opener with Liverpool on Saturday in the Community Shield, Arteta revealed that there are things still needed to be done before the announcement of Gabriel from the Ligue 1 outfit.
The Arsenal boss said: “Regarding Gabriel, we can’t announce anything yet,”
“The deal is not finalized.
“You all know that he is a player that we have followed for a long time and hopefully we can get it done.
“Everything is OK when both parties sign, the club and the player agrees the terms and he goes through the medical.
“Sometimes in the final stages it is not as easy as it looks but, again, we are pretty positive that we can do it.”
“When we get it, I will be very pleased,” he added.
“He’s a player we followed and were very determined that he was the right profile for us to improve our squad. If we are able to finalize it we will be delighted.
“We are trying to finalize the deal, that’s what I can tell you at the moment.” Per Goal.
Fans worldwide have been keen on an official announcement regarding star player and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the 31-year-old Gabon international reportedly agreed to a new three-year extension keeping him with the Gunners until 2024.
Aubameyang has just one year left on his current deal, and Arsenal are keen on tying down their top scorer down with a lucrative new deal worth around £250,000-a-week.
Mikel Arteta has confirmed he is positive about the renewal talks and that the Arsenal star is on the brink of signing a new three-year deal.
He said: “I keep being positive,” said Arteta. “We’ve had some really good talks with him and his agent and I am pretty confident we will find an agreement soon. That’s my feeling.”
Arteta added that the new contract would definitely give the club a huge boost.
He said: “Absolutely, for him as well.
“I think he should be very happy he is able to stay at the club for a long time and I think he will be delighted with the news.”
