Mikel Arteta looks to have secured the signing of Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City but Pep Guardiola has been warned against permitting the striker's exit.
Jesus featured in 28 games for City in the Premier League last season, directly contributing towards 17 goals, predominantly from centre-forward despite cameos on the wing. His impressive displays steered the club to another campaign filled with silverware amid a time whereby Guardiola was without a regular No. 9.
Unsurprisingly, the Brazil international's impressive displays have courted the interest of Arteta, who is in the market for a new striker following the departures of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, with the player himself appearing at the Emirates Stadium sporting an Arsenal shirt with the No. 9 on the back in images that first circulated on social media.
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football.london understands that technical director Edu has held talks with Jesus' representatives in recent months ahead of a potential move. And, it seems to have paid off with personal terms and a fee agreed between all the parties involved; according to Fabrizio Romano, the Brazilian has penned a deal with Arsenal that keeps him at the club until 2027 in a transfer costing the Gunners £45million.
With Jesus reportedly set to leave City imminently, Dietmar Hamann has told Guardiola that he's making a mistake. The former Liverpool midfielder outlined Erling Haaland's injury record as a cause for concern.
Speaking to Genting Casino, Hamann said: "Pep Guardiola is making a mistake by letting Gabriel Jesus leave. Erling Haaland has had his injury problems and the Premier League is a very physical league. If you look at Gabriel Jesus' stats, they're brilliant. He's scored a lot of goals for them so I'm surprised he's been allowed to leave."
Last season, Haaland scored 27 goals in 29 appearances for Borussia Dortmund, despite a worrying number of injuries sustained over the course of the campaign. The 21-year-old briefly struggled with muscular problems at the end of September moving into October before hip flexor issues kept him out of action from mid-October to November.
The striker's muscular injury returned in February before he could round off the Bundesliga season by adding six goals to his name. While it's unlikely that Haaland will have any major problems finding the net, it will be pleasing for Arteta to hear that a prospective arrival has the ability to compete at a similar level.
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