Manchester City have offered to offload Gabriel Jesus to Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid this summer amid Arsenal 's interest, according to reports.
The Brazilian, who is keen on a move away from the Etihad this summer following the imminent arrival of Erling Haaland, has been identified as a priority for Mikel Arteta. However this may now prove difficult as the Gunners could be forced to battle for his signature.
According to Cadena Ser journalist Anton Meana, via the Daily Mail, the 25-year-old is demanding €5million (£4.3m) after tax, per annum. The report states that Atletico have said no to a potential deal initially, but Carlo Ancelotti's Los Blancos are keen. It also adds that being Jesus being a non-European citizen could be an issue.
Arteta, who was City's assistant coach at the Etihad, is looking to bolster his attack following the departure of strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette. The Gunners have already initiated talks with Jesus' agent Marcelo Pettinati and amid other interest from Europe, the North London side improved his current £110,000-a-week salary to £190,000 per week plus bonuses in an attempt to prise the striker away.
Speaking after scoring in Brazil's 5-1 win over South Korea, he suggested a decision could be made soon as he enters the last year of his current City deal. "I’m looking to see what’s best for me and above all, for my career. From Tuesday, we’ll see what is the best," he said.
Meanwhile Arteta previously hailed Jesus, describing that without a striker like him, "you have nothing." "He puts the ball in the net – that’s priority number one," he told Sky Sports. "Goal threat. Any successful team needs enough goal threat in the squad. Without it, you have nothing."
Jesus found game time hard to come by this season, only featuring 28 times in the Premier League for Pep Guardiola, which equalled his lowest in a full season since his £28million move from Palmeiras.
But with a view to play regularly as a central striker for Arteta could have a heavy influence in his decision.
