Arsenal have reached a verbal agreement with Manchester City for the transfer of Gabriel Jesus after the clubs settled on a £45 million base fee, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Brazilian has had interest from Arsenal’s London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea earlier on in the window, but Mikel Arteta’s top summer target now looks set for a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal Find Agreement for Gabriel Jesus Deal
Arsenal and Manchester City have reached full verbal agreement today for Gabriel Jesus. Deal in place after new meeting – been told guaranteed fee is £45m. 🚨🇧🇷 #AFC
Arsenal are now working on personal terms with Gabriel’s camp – final step to get the deal completed very soon. pic.twitter.com/sNcy4TuTks
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 24, 2022
Arsenal Near the End of Their Waiting Game
The north-London side’s interest in the Brazilian international has been apparent since it was first reported by David Ornstein in late April. After Manchester City confirmed the signing of Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, it looked as though Jesus would fall down the pecking order in the Manchester City attack and could seek a move away this summer.
Jesus has gathered interest from Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham this window but it is the Gunners who look likely to win the race for his signature.
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After the two clubs agreed on a £45 million fee on this week, the 25-year-old now looks set to join up with new manager and former assistant manager Mikel Arteta, who coached Jesus for two years whilst in Manchester.
Where Does Gabriel Jesus Fit into the Arsenal Squad?
With the departure of both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang over the past six months, Arsenal are left with just two recognised strikers in their squad in the form of Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun. With the former signing a new long-term deal at the club and Balogun’s immediate future uncertain, the arrival of the Brazilian gives Arteta much-needed depth in his attacking options.
Arteta’s implemented ‘pressing from the front’ has seen an end to Lacazette and Aubameyang’s spells at the club. But the Spaniard will be pleased to hear the recent praise of his top target from Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who claims Jesus is the ‘best in the world’ at pressing from the front.
Arsenal’s lack of goals from their centre-forward position contributed to their failure to reach the top four in the 2021/22 Premier League campaign, but with the likely arrival of the Brazilian in north London, the club will be looking to go one step further this coming season and secure Champions League football for the first time in seven years.
