Arsenal have a lot of business still to do this summer.
Some of it involves getting players off the books as much as bringing new ones in.
Leandro Trossard has already joined Besiktas. The club are actively trying to move on Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson.
They will listen to offers for Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, and possibly Ben White, though his situation may have changed following William Saliba’s injury.
Who should replace William Saliba at Arsenal if his injury rules him out for months?
And then there is Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus is Arsenal’s third-highest earner, taking home £265,000 a week. His status in the squad — third, arguably even fourth-choice striker behind Kai Havertz, Viktor Gyokeres and Mikel Merino — does not remotely reflect that.
It’s time to move him on, but nobody wants to pay what Arsenal want for him.
Arsenal may have to accept less than they want for Gabriel Jesus
Arsenal have set a £20million asking price for Jesus.
How much money should Arsenal demand to sell Gabriel Jesus this summer?
Name your price!
AC Milan, currently the most serious suitors according to Jorge Nicola, still consider that too high for a player with just one year left on his contract.
Juventus and Atletico Madrid have made enquiries but neither have made a formal offer yet.
Jesus himself reportedly wants to remain in Europe for another two or three years before eventually returning to Palmeiras, so a move to Brazil is not expected this summer.
The wages are the real sticking point. At £265,000 a week, most clubs interested in Jesus will either want Arsenal to contribute to his salary or demand a significant reduction in the transfer fee to compensate.
Given how poor Arsenal have been at selling players for meagre prices, you have to admire Andrea Berta for standing firm on a valuation.
But with Jesus’ contract expiring next summer, Arsenal’s negotiating position weakens by the day.
The Brazilian was a transformative signing in 2022, a massive reason Arsenal became genuine title challengers that season before injuries plagued his time at the club.
He will be leaving having done what he ultimately came here to do — help the club win the Premier League.
Jesus deserves a dignified exit and a proper send-off. But Berta may ultimately need to accept a fee well below £20million to make that happen.
Besides, getting his wages off the books is more valuable than any transfer fee Arsenal can realistically extract.
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