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Champions League giants now want £45m Arsenal ace, Arteta may have to consider loan deal

Posted on by angelo
Champions League giants now want £45m Arsenal ace, Arteta may have to consider loan deal

Arsenal could end up making some surprising first-team sales this summer as Mikel Arteta aims to bolster his squad’s depth.

Arsenal came agonizingly close in the Premier League title race but finished two points behind Manchester City, and better depth for increased rotation may have been the difference between the two teams.

Arteta could now see this summer as an opportunity to remove some of his fringe options to make way for more quality depth, and that could see some big names leave.

Emile Smith Rowe is a candidate for the exit door given his lack of playing time, while Thomas Partey could also be moved on after another injury-plagued campaign.

There are now also question marks over the future of striker Gabriel Jesus, who lost his centre-forward spot to Kai Havertz, and he is certainly attracting interest.

AC Milan interested in Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus

A report from Italian media outlet Sport Italia has now claimed that Serie A giants AC Milan could replace Gabriel Jesus as they look to strengthen their forward options.

The 27-year-old is one of several options being considered by Milan after finishing second in Serie A and qualifying for the Champions League again, along with Arsenal target Joshua Zirkzee, but a deal appears extremely difficult.

Jesus has three years left on his £265,000-a-week contract, and Arsenal are said to want a significant fee to part with a player who, at his best, is one of the team’s most talented players.

The report claims that any deal to acquire the Brazilian may need to be structured as an upfront loan, similar to Romelu Lukaku’s situation, and that while this is unlikely, “nothing is impossible”.

Arsenal expected to keep Gabriel Jesus despite interest from Milan

Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at the Emirates Stadium on May 19, 2024 in London, England.
Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Jesus has been exceptional in his first few months at Arsenal following his £45 million move from Manchester City, and has helped raise the team’s standard to one that could challenge for the title.

Since then, a knee injury he suffered during the World Cup has plagued him, and this season has been frustrating for him as he has been unable to find his form between injuries.

Jesus has only scored four Premier League goals, but has scored four and assisted three times in eight Champions League matches, as the most experienced Arsenal player in the competition.

A full pre-season and return to consistent fitness could see Jesus return to his best form, and Arsenal should give him one more season to try and regain that.

Although Jesus isn’t as quick as some of Arsenal’s other strikers, he can still offer quality on both wings or as a striker, and unless a huge offer comes in, a surprise exit at Milan should not be considered.

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