Arsenal in advanced talks for shock Gabriel Jesus transfer from Man City

With six games left of the Premier League season left to play for Arsenal, starting with Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, naturally eyes are being averted towards the summer.

Another window of significant overhauling is due to take place with numerous exits and plenty of arrivals hoped to be making their way to north London. While nothing is confirmed, it does appear as if European football will be back at Arsenal next season.

Barring any late collapse, Europa League, at the least, should feature on the fixture list.

While top four ambitions are very much alive, targets need to be looked into across Europe irrespective of what competition Arsenal are competing in next season. Mikel Arteta needs defenders, midfielders, forwards and strikers. The lot.

Arsenal in advanced talks for shock Gabriel Jesus transfer from Manchester City as Mikel Arteta eyes striker reinforcements from Premier League rivals

Key among the desired arrivals is not one, but two centre-forwards. Eddie Nketiah may have enjoyed his finest night in an Arsenal shirt with his brace in the 4-2 win over Chelsea, but he is still due to depart the club in the summer alongside Alexandre Lacazette with the duo’s respective deals expiring.

Given more than one No. 9 is on the agenda, different profiles of players will be required. One will certainly have to be the elite player to start every week, while in terms of rotation another, still effective option, is required.

That has brought up links to surprise links to Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus.

Not only are Arsenal interested in the player Arteta used to work with, journalist Jorge Nicola has gone as far as to say that the Gunners are in advanced talks to sign the 25-year-old. It’s added that Edu has approached Jesus’ agent, Paulo Pitombeira, and that ‘everything has been agreed’ between the Brazilian striker and Arsenal.

All that is left, apparently, is Manchester City’s blessing.

With his contract expiring in 2023 there is no sign of a renewal on the horizon, with Pep Guardiola seeking to move the player on as they continue working on the seemingly inevitable signing of Erling Haaland.

The Gunners are said to be willing to play the waiting game, however, and if a fee can’t be agreed then they will hold out until 2023 by which point they will bring Jesus in on a free transfer. Should he be allowed to leave on a mutually agreed fee at the end of the season then Arsenal will also raise his salary from €4m per year up to €6m per year, which equates to around £100k-per-week.

How believable is this source? Well, it would be hard to say, but reaffirmation from the ever-reliable David Ornstein gives absolute certainty to the links. He adds that discussions have been held between Edu and Jesus’s representatives for a number of months, and that the striker, who is more than capable of playing out on the wing, is open to the prospect.

As for the player, he would arrive with Premier League experience and undoubted quality. If he were to be one of the two arrivals – alongside another higher calibre option – then it wouldn’t be the worst move going. In fact, it’d be an excellent move for a more than affordable price.