Arsenal are prepared to sell Gabriel Jesus this summer as Mikel Arteta lines up a new striker.
Jesus, 27, has endured a frustrating second season at the Emirates, one which has seen him miss a total of 16 games on top of the 15 which he was absent for last term. With just eight goals across 33 appearances and new signing Kai Havertz preferred in the No.9 role, the Brazilian striker’s future has come under the microscope.
Once billed to lead the Gunners’ attack for years to come following his statement £45million transfer move from title rivals Manchester City, Arsenal are now open to selling Jesus, according to the Athletic. If a substantial offer arrives, Emirates chiefs will consider it and aim to reinvest in one of Arteta’s reported four main targets.
In January, Arsenal were heavily linked with a move for Brentford talisman Ivan Toney. The England international was in the process of returning from his eight-month ban after admitting to 232 breaches of the FA’s rules on gambling, but still garnered interest from some of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
28-year-old Toney will be out of contract with Brentford next summer, so it makes sense for the Bees to cash in this time around. His physical dominance, range of goals and penalty-taking prowess are all attractive attributes.
Another striker who’s proven in the Premier League and four years younger than Toney is Newcastle ace Alexander Isak. The Swede has been on a hot streak since the beginning of March, scoring nine goals in nine games as the Magpies make a late dart for the European places.
Isak has been compared to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and with Newcastle needing to conform to both the Premier League and UEFA’s financial regulations, they need to drum up funds quickly. A club who are used to selling players are RB Leipzig, who have Benjamin Sesko in their ranks amid links of a switch to North London.
Since arriving from sister club Red Bull Salzburg at the start of this season, the Slovenian striker has scored 15 goals in 39 games. At 20, Sesko might represent one for the future at Arsenal, although his current run of four goals in four games suggests that he could even be a readymade replacement.
Then there’s Sporting Lisbon marksman Viktor Gyokores, who left Coventry last summer to join the Portuguese champions in-waiting. With an astonishing 40 goals and 14 assists in 46 games, there’s no doubt that Isak’s international team-mate knows where the back of the net is. A former Brighton academy prospect, Gyokores has got unfinished business in the Premier League.
One thing is for sure, none of them will come cheap. Arteta, though, is set to be backed once again by the Kroenke family during the summer transfer window and Jesus’ sale would only increase the Gunners’ already sizeable budget.
