Gabriel Jesus: 4 reasons Arsenal should sign Man City striker

Arsenal still have plenty of time remaining before they can start dipping into the transfer market, with their Premier League fate far from sealed.

The opportunities that open up for a side playing in the Champions League in comparison to the Europa League are vast. All of the finest and most aspiring players on the continent want to be competing with and against the very best.

Getting into the top four can have a transformative impact on the Gunners’ future. Who they can sign and what funding they have to do so is all contingent on a top four place.

Yet while there are still uncertainties over what the club’s pulling power may be with five matches standing between them and the elusive fourth spot, Arsenal are already sowing their seeds as they aim to position themselves ahead of the market opening.

Gabriel Jesus: 4 reasons Arsenal should sign Manchester City striker as Mikel Arteta and Edu eye bargain transfer for Brazilian striker

"Edu confirmed that preparations are well underway: “Our planning has already been done, it has already reached the owners. It’s a matter of step by step, how we are going to finish the season and to put in plan the planning that I’m very excited about.”"

Part of their planning includes Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus. Talks have been ongoing for months between Edu and the players’ representatives about a move to the capital, with his playing time set to suffer further when Erling Haaland inevitably makes the move to Greater Manchester.

Arsenal have carved themselves something of a niche in the transfer market when it comes to signing players top sides who may just has fallen by the wayside or out of favour. Martin Odegaard and Alexis Sanchez are recent examples, while you can also go further back and list Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry as similar purchases

And you know what? This is one would work, too – even if three players called Gabriel might kill Arteta’s vocal chords and be incredibly confusing.

Here are four reasons Arsenal should sign Gabriel Jesus.

1. A Good Price for a Good Age

While price should never solely dictate whether you sign a player, it does have an impact. So, starting with this side of the deal, it feels a bit like a open invitation.

With just one year left on his contract come the summer and no signs of a renewal on the table, it puts Manchester City in a position where they’re effectively being forced to sell. Haaland will lead the line, Jack Grealish will probably get more minutes out wide and Jesus will see his playing time heavily depleted.

They need to make some money back on him.

Signed for £27m in the summer of 2016 – he officially joined in the winter 2017 – the talk is that City will want a fee not too dissimilar from that (€30m/£25m). That’s considerably less than the £75m figures for other options on the market, and it allows Arsenal to spread their expenditure across more positions (including another striker).

Given he’s only got a year left on his deal it may seem somewhat steep, but there will be unquestionable interest in his signature over the summer – and his age is a big selling point.

Turning 25 years old earlier in April, this is someone with his best years ahead of him. Arsenal will be wanting to sign a striker who isn’t a project player and doesn’t arrive with no chance of resale value, and Jesus fits neatly into the recruitment strategy at the club.

Arteta discount, maybe?

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