Former Manchester City and Liverpool goalkeeper David James cannot understand why Gabriel Jesus is considering a move to Arsenal this summer.
As previously reported, the Gunners will target two centre-forwards. football.london understands that City striker Jesus and Roma frontman Tammy Abraham are among the shortlisted profiles who could arrive at Emirates Stadium. Jesus, in particular, remains open to leaving the current Premier League champions, with his representative reportedly holding talks with Edu throughout the past few months.
In November, Arsenal first made enquiries for Jesus, with Edu maintaining a close relationship with the player's agent and the City forward himself. There's been suggestions that Tottenham are also interested, although the Gunners are thought to have the upper hand in that particular battle, despite the fact Spurs qualified for the Champions League ahead of Mikel Arteta's side.
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Nevertheless, James doesn't see how leaving the Premier League Champions can be a good move for the Brazilian, even after City agreed a deal for Erling Haaland.
“If you look at Man City players’ appearances this season, Bernardo Silva and Rodri have played 30-plus Premier League games, but all the players in that attacking line-up have played around 25 games, so they’re not playing every week," he told Genting Casino.
"Pep’s rotation has worked perfectly in the sense that they won the Premier League again. I’d imagine Haaland would fit into that mould, he’s not going to play every game. Also, with his injuries, there are question marks over whether he is physically capable of playing all the games.
“That being said, Jesus will have a shared role if he stays at Manchester City. This isn’t a buy-a-player-and-use-him-all-the-time situation, so there is still room for Jesus and why would he want to leave? You’ve got the best team in England over the past five years, so would he risk it by moving somewhere else to Arsenal, who aren’t even in the Champions League, or would he rather stay at Man City and try to get the Holy Grail, which is the Champions League?”
Arsenal legend Paul Merson is of a similar opinion. Speaking before Haaland signed for The Cityzens, the Englishman couldn't get his head around why Jesus would want to leave.
"Gabriel Jesus should stay at Manchester City. There’s speculation about his future and people think he’s unhappy he doesn’t play enough – but he’s started 17 Premier League games this season,’ Merson told the Daily Star. "I think that’s a lot. He’s played 36 times for City this season. And started a lot of big, big games. Where is he going to go where he can do any better than that?
"Even if City sign Erling Haaland, he shouldn’t leave. No way. This is a team that is going to go deep in four competitions every year and he will always get games. Pep Guardiola trusts him. He misses a lot of chances but you can play him anywhere in the forward line and he always keeps trying to get in there. He still has a big role to play this season. I don’t think Haaland would play a huge amount more than that if he goes there."
A player of Jesus' quality and experience would be a major coup for the Gunners as they continue their rebuild at the Emirates. It's now up to Edu and co to negotiate a move.
