Arsenal are shopping for strikers from a place of obvious weakness this summer and the early stages of their Gabriel Jesus pursuit show just how difficult things might be
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The season is over and Arsenal know their lot – now they have the very tricky task of navigating the summer transfer window and coming out the other side in a stronger position.
There are many facets to that, but arguably the most important comes up front, where the Gunners are extremely thin on the ground. None of this is new – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang left in January and Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette’s contractual situations have been bubbling away for months – but that doesn’t diminish the importance.
Mikel Arteta managed to steer the side to fifth place in the Premier League with the aforementioned strikers. If the Gunners’ hierarchy want an improvement on that then they need to act fast, because they are facing some major disadvantages.
Firstly – and perhaps most significantly – Arsenal cannot offer potential signings Champions League football next season. When you’re shopping from the top shelf, that is an issue, especially if you have been dangling that particular carrot to attract players in previous months, when the team appeared to be on course to finish in fourth.
Secondly, selling clubs know all about Arsenal’s current position. They are buying from a position of weakness and could reach July 1 with zero contracted senior strikers in the squad. Arteta has been clear about his desire to keep Nketiah, and Lacazette could yet stay too , but even if one – or both – does, they will still need major reinforcements.
Arsenal are desperate for strikers and every other club in Europe knows this. That means they come into any negotiations with the upper hand: they can play hard ball and demand inflated fees. The looming spectre of Dusan Vlahovic could prompt Arsenal to be more decisive; the way they missed out on the Serbian striker to Juventus may have far-reaching consequences.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Arsenal fork out to sign Gabriel Jesus this summer? Comment below.
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It is in this context that Arsenal’s pursuit of Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus must be viewed. The Gunners have been in contact with Pep Guardiola’s side over a deal for Jesus, who knows Arteta from his time working as a coach at Man City.
According to ESPN , City have slapped a £55million price tag on Jesus, despite the Brazilian being out of contract in June 2023. Unsurprisingly, Arsenal are understood to be unhappy with that valuation, given they could wait a year and get their man without having to pay a penny in transfer fees.
Jesus appears a good fit in many respects. He knows Arteta, is reportedly keen on the Arsenal project where he’d be top dog, rather than second fiddle behind Erling Haaland, is approaching his peak at 25, and comes with plenty of experience, having contributed 95 goals and 46 assists in 236 appearances for Man City. But is he worth £55m?
Arsenal showed they weren’t shy to splash the cash last summer, shelling out over £150m on six new players. But while a top-quality striker is their most pressing current concern, it is far from the only one, with a big turnover of players expected in north London.
Jesus therefore could make or break Arsenal’s transfer plans. Land him early on this summer for a reasonable transfer fee and they will have made a serious statement of intent. Miss out on his signature, or pay way over market value, and risk scuppering what are, presumably, well-laid plans.
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