Tiago Gabriel is the next big thing at Lecce, summer move looks likely
As reported by TuttoMercatoWeb, Lecce centre-back Tiago Gabriel is attracting attention of the Serie A elite, with Milan and Juve monitoring his situation.The 21-year-old is about to complete his firs...
Tiago Gabriel is the next big thing at Lecce, summer move looks likely As reported by TuttoMercatoWeb , Lecce centre-back Tiago Gabriel is attracting attention of the Serie A elite, with Milan and Juve monitoring his situation. The 21-year-old is about to complete his first full season in Apulia since his €1. 25m move from Portuguese side Estrela da Amadora in January last year, but already he has become a mainstay in the Salentini backline.
In Serie A, the Portugal U21 international has featured in every game for Lecce barring one. His presence at the back has ensured the team have far from the worst defensive record in the league this season despite their lowly position in the league table. Despite being 17th in Serie A, with relegation still a mathematical possibility, a recent uptick in form and a four-point gap from 18th-place Cremonese means survival is very likely for Eusebio Di Francesco’s men.
Despite moving to Lecce only last year, Gabriel only has one year remaining on his €330,000-per-year contract. A €25m expected price tag means his suitors have very modest numbers to match and improve. Tiago Gabriel’s price tag makes a jump likely The financial reality of the Italian top flight in comparison with the rest of Europe, in particular the Premier League, means the top sides in the league often have to operate in a tier below when it comes to acquisitions, with even mid-table English sides able to match and financially out-muscle Italy’s recent league winners.
Clubs like Milan and Juve, therefore, often end up looking for bargains more than big-name statement signings not just to discover a talent early but also make huge financial gains off their sales. Given his current contract and Lecce’s reported asking price for him, Tiago Gabriel is very likely to leave the Stadio Via del mare in the summer, and staying in Italy is a high possibility. Moreover, given Lecce’s recent record with promising young defenders — Patrick Dorgu attracted attention for months before moving to Man United, where he has thrived despite injury struggles — making a move for Tiago Gabriel can be considered a safe bet.