Report: Manager will let his 'incredible' £51.5m star join Arsenal

By Giuseppe Labellarte

Arsenal have been heavily linked with Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus in recent weeks.

Now, ESPN has reported that the 25-year-old could soon ask to leave his club.

Arsenal are in need of bolstering their attacking ranks come the end of the season.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s January departure left Mikel Arteta with just two senior strikers.

In addition, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are out of contract in the summer.

It remains to be seen whether Arteta will offer them new deals, and whether they’ll accept.

However, it looks as though Arsenal are making good progress towards signing Jesus.

Reports last month claimed that personal terms with the Gunners were all-but agreed.

Calciomercato.it, meanwhile, reported that Arsenal are frontrunners in the race for the Brazilian.

And The Sun recently suggested Jesus would consider a move even if Arsenal don’t reach the Champions League.

With Manchester City signing Erling Braut Haaland, the Selecao star would likely slip further down the pecking order.

ESPN has claimed that the Citizens are bracing themselves for a transfer request from Jesus, and that Pep Guardiola will let him move.

“Sources have… told ESPN that City are expecting Gabriel Jesus to ask for permission to leave the club amid interest from Arsenal and Juventus,” they wrote.

“And that, if it happened, Guardiola would not stand in his way.”

According to UOL Esporte, Arsenal are ready to pay at least £43million for the forward.

City, meanwhile, ideally want £51.5million.

Jesus is a world-class forward in the peak of his career and has considerable Premier League experience.

The Brazil international – who Pep Guardiola has deemed “incredible” – is also versatile.

He can play at centre-forward as well as on the flanks, something which would suit Arsenal well.