Arsenal are on the hunt for their new number 9. After negotiations with Dusan Vlahovic fell through in January, Mikel Arteta is looking to fill the void left by Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang. Alexandre Lacazette has also hinted at moving away from North London as he misses Champions League football.
The latest reports suggest that Arsenal could be close to signing Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus. Following City's triumph against Real Madrid last night, I would think that Chelsea should play a part in blocking such a move. It's an unpopular opinion but hear me out.
I hate to break it to you, but Thomas Tuchel will need a new forward to cultivate as rumours suggest the exit of Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku. Not only is Gabriel Jesus a versatile player who could adapt well to Tuchel's football, but snatching him from our rivals would make a delicious story.
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According to football.london's Chris Wheatley, talks between Jesus and Arsenal's director Edu have been ongoing since November. It would not come as a shock for many as Mikel Arteta has already worked with Jesus during his time as Pep Guardiola's assistant. As a Chelsea fan, I do wonder, why hasn't Chelsea made a move for him yet?
Tuchel is on the hunt to rejuvenate his defence following the confirmed departure of Antonio Rudiger, but he is also ready to tweak the attack. Having contacted Ousmane Dembele in January, it's only right we look into more options that could fit into the German's regime.
The Brazilian international's contract expires in 2023, meaning Guardiola would have to make a decision on his future fast. There is still some fight left in Jesus after scoring four goals over the weekend against Watford and another goal against Real Madrid.
It goes to show that he is more than capable of being a priority goal scorer. He just needs the right manager to believe in him. As the 'backup' option to Sergio Aguero for many years, his story could end up similar to Karim Benzema's. The man was overshadowed by one of the most formidable goal scorers of our time. When unleashed, he could become an absolute beast.
Maybe I am getting far too ahead of myself here. There are some inconsistencies in the 25-year-olds game, but it's not as alarming as Timo Werner's. As much as he is a fan favourite, Werner has not lived up to the 25 goals a season expectation that was set when he arrived. He has been unable to shake off the so-called "Bundesliga tax" that rival fans have given him.
Jesus, on the other hand, is a Premier League proven forward who, with enough game time, could become a prolific goal scorer. Chelsea cannot just go ahead and give that sort of prize to Arsenal!
Having started just 23 games this season, Jesus has scored 12 goals mirrored with 12 assists. He could do with some tweaking in his game. I understand that most Chelsea fans would prefer a finished article, especially if they are not from the academy. However, let's assess the possibility and tell me what you think.
Do you think Gabriel Jesus could be a good fit for Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel? Comment below!
