Gabriel Jesus Arsenal transfer latest - Contract details, potential replacements, Mikel Arteta view
Arsenal are understood to be considering the possibility of selling Gabriel Jesus this summer, only two years on from signing the Brazilian striker from Manchester City.
Jesus' career with the Gunners got off to a flyer last season, scoring four times in his opening eight Premier League games, though a knee injury would keep the forward sidelined from December to Match as Mikel Arteta's side challenged for the title.
A similar scenario has played out this term, with Jesus again suffering injury issues, enabling the likes of Kai Havertz and Leandro Trossard to grasp first-team opportunities.
Arsenal are open to offloading the 27-year-old in the upcoming transfer window and there is a strong chance the club will recoup a respectable fee should they decide to part ways with their No.9.
Jesus has cut a frustrated figure at times this campaign after being left on the bench for certain matches, one of which included the Champions League quarter-final first leg with Bayern Munich at Emirates Stadium.
The Brazil international would come on to assist Trossard's equaliser, though would have been hoping to lead the line from the start in such an important fixture.
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What has Arteta said?
Admitting Jesus' reaction to being left out of the starting eleven was an example to others, Arteta admitted: “They can be angry at me, that’s fine, but they have to make it professional not personal.
"It's my role to make those decisions, It’s not the person I am putting on the bench, it is the player. Gabriel had exactly the mindset that you would ask of him. I could see in his eyes that he was ready to make an impact. He loves the competition and he was tremendous.
“If you ask any player, they will say that sometimes there is pain and they have to deal with that. That makes you as well, and Gabby has this toughness and character that he always wants to overcome.”
Regarding his future at Arsenal, little has been said on the topic by Arteta or Jesus himself. One of the reasons some supporters would be open to an exit is Jesus' lack of output in the final third, having contributed eight goals and seven assists in 33 appearances across all competitions in 2023/24.
What has Jesus said?
Fully aware of the criticism that has come his way for this very reason, Jesus told ESPN Brasil in December. “I’ll say it again, but now I think it’s clearer: I don’t think scoring goals or fighting for the top scorer’s honour is my strong point, but I can improve, I want to improve and I will improve. I have other qualities too, but I score goals, I’ve scored goals that have helped the team, I’ve scored hat-tricks.
“Many people, not generalising, only look at the result after the game. Then they see that Gabriel didn’t score, didn’t provide an assist. And then they think ‘oh, he didn’t do well’ but they don’t watch the game and they don’t see what happened.”
“Obviously there are things to improve, there always will be, but the coach is happy. Of course I understand the real fans, who see beyond the goal. But they want their number 9 to score as well. And I score, you know? I’m getting better and better. But I also understand my other strengths, which I won’t give up in order to be a goalscorer. If you say to me: ‘Ah, but would you rather just score there and lose those other qualities?’, I’d say no.”
Who could replace him?
In terms of who could replace Jesus, the following three players have each been strongly linked with a move to North London: Viktor Gyokeres, Alexander Isak and Ivan Toney.
Toney is likely to the cheapest of the three options and emerged as a target for the club during the January transfer window. Brentford boss Thomas Frank has conceded his star striker is almost certain to move on this summer as the Bees look to cash in on the 28-year-old while he still has one year remaining on his contract.
Isak is expected to cost in excess of £90million, a price tag that may continue to rise if the Swedish star continues his impressive goalscoring run of late. The Newcastle forward has scored 19 goals in the Premier League this term, a tally bettered only by Cole Palmer and Erling Haaland.
Gyokeres, who signed for Sporting last summer, has enjoyed a remarkable debut year in Portugal. He is on course to claim the league title with his current employers and will face Porto in the final of the Taca de Portugal later this month. The ex-Coventry City striker has plundered 40 goals while registering 15 assists in the process.