Napoli are interested in signing Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus.
According to Calciomercato, reigning Italian champions Napoli have identified Gabriel Jesus as a potential transfer target. However, they accept that it will be difficult to prise the player away from Arsenal.
Napoli are keen to bolster their striker options in the near future, as they are anticipating the exit of Victor Osimhen. Arsenal themselves have been credited with significant interest in the Nigerian goalscorer. Potentially, this opens the door to some kind of swap deal, which could see Jesus depart the Emirates Stadium.
In many ways, Jesus has been a revelation since joining Arsenal in a £45 million switch from Manchester City in the summer of 2022. The 26-year-old’s energy, flair, and unpredictability have transformed the Gunners’ attack. He is a key figure in Mikel Arteta’s squad, and is a fan favourite at the north London club.
The pros and cons of Jesus
However, there are certain drawbacks for Arsenal to being so reliant upon Jesus. For a start, the 61-cap Brazil international’s finishing is unreliable. For all the good work he does elsewhere, once he is through on goal he can’t be relied upon to consistently find the back of the net.
On top of that, he has had a number of fitness concerns since joining Arsenal, and has even undergone a knee operation. It is hard to say at this stage if this could have lingering knock on effects.
All in all, Arsenal would be very unwise to let Jesus go any time soon. He offers something unique amongst Arteta’s other attacking options. He is also experienced, a proven winner of major silverware, and leads by example on the pitch with his phenomenal work-rate.
That being said, Arteta needs to make the club less reliant on Jesus. An elite level striker who can take some of the burden off him is required.
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