"There's certainly a chance" - Journalist says Arsenal superstar could leave the PL club in the summer
Arsenal expert Charles Watts believes striker Gabriel Jesus could be on the move from the Emirates Stadium next summer. The Brazil international is no longer a regular starter under Mikel Arteta, with Kai Havertz being preferred over him in the number nine position.
Jesus' time in north London has also been impacted by injury. During the 2023-24 campaign, he missed 16 matches across competitions and 17 the year before due to fitness-related issues.
Even when on the pitch, the 27-year-old's impact has been limited. He managed to find the back of the net four times in 27 league matches last year and has yet to score this campaign.
Speaking about Jesus to CaughtOffSide, Watts said:
"Gabriel Jesus is clearly struggling for confidence right now. You can see the way he's playing. He's thinking about things too much and taking too many touches when he's in possession."
"When Jesus is at his best, he does things off the cuff. He creates chaos with his movement and his work rate. But right now he's bringing more confusion than chaos with his play."
He added:
"I think there's certainly a chance this could be his final season at the club, but obviously that's a decision that will taken in the summer should any suitable offers arrive."
Jesus still has two years left on his contract at Arsenal by the time the summer of 2025 arrives. Therefore, the Gunners can look to secure a reasonable sum for the attacker.
Jesus signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2022 from Manchester City for a reported fee of £50 million. Since then, he's made 77 appearances across competitions, bagging 19 goals and 15 assists.
Arsenal interested in signing Ligue 1 striker next summer - Reports
Arsenal were linked with numerous strikers in the recent transfer window, something that could urge Gabriel Jesus to move away from the Emirates. With no number nine coming in this summer, the Gunners are seemingly still on the hunt for a player in this position.
According to Football365, the north Londoners are among a host of clubs chasing the signature of Lille forward Jonathan David. The report states that Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are in the mix of teams interested in the Canadian.
It's not surprising to see the number of teams after David, given he will be available for free after his contract runs out next summer. To date, he's made 196 appearances across competitions for Lille, scoring 92 goals and assisting 20 times.