(Football news) Arsenal are in talks with Premier League champions Manchester City to sign Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus. Pep Guardiola’s team are reluctant to sell the 25 year old but recognize that Jesus desires first team football, something City cannot provide after signing Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez. City’s Brazilian striker scored 13 goals, provided 12 assists in 28 starts and is expected to be worth £50m. He arrived at the Etihad Stadium from Brazilian club Palmeiras in 2016 and has scored 95 times in 236 appearances since then.
Mikel Arteta will need to bolster Arsenal’s attack, especially after Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang departed for Barcelona in January and Alexandre Lacazette has moved to Lyon this summer. The fact is that Arsenal are creating plenty of opportunities but are failing to convert them. The Gunners were ranked fourth for shots, shots on target and expected goals (xG) but were only 11th in shot conversion, which means only Brighton, Leeds and the three relegated teams had a lower xG differential.
It can be safely said that Gabriel Jesus has failed to fill the void from Sergio Aguero’s departure as the Brazilian has never managed to make more than 22 starts for City in a campaign, playing just 51% of the available minutes for the club. The Brazilian has averaged a goal every 160 minutes which is quite impressive with only six other players having a superior strike rate. In Jesus’ 159 appearances in the Premier League, more than a third of that tally has been as a substitute but the Brazilian also leaves much to be desired in his finishing. The 25 year old has excellent off the ball movement and pressing, but will definitely need to improve his final product if he is to become a reliable goal scorer for Arsenal.
Also read: Fabio Vieira set to join Arsenal for a reported fee of €35m
