Rio Ferdinand has advised Arsenal to sign Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City as they search for a forward to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Mikel Arteta chose to offload Aubameyang to Barcelona in the January transfer window after stripping the striker of the captaincy following a disciplinary breach.
In doing so, the Gunners boss asserted his authority but lost a player who plundered 92 goals in 163 appearances and shared the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2018/19 season.
Adding to Emirates chiefs' concerns, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are poised to follow Aubameyang out the door when their contracts expire this summer.
This would leave Arsenal without a recognised senior centre-forward, but Ferdinand is confident Jesus can fill the void - and he may be available for a reasonable sum.
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"If I was Arsenal, I would go and buy Gabriel Jesus," the Manchester United legend told his Vibe with FIVE YouTube channel during a chat with transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Jesus, 24, has scored six times and registered nine assists this season to take his tally to 131 goal involvements in 222 appearances for City.
The Brazilian was once regarded as the future of the Sky Blues attack but his career has stalled somewhat amid the fierce competition for minutes at the Etihad.
He will have just one year remaining on his contract this summer and Inter Milan are believed to be monitoring the situation.
"At the moment I'm told there's no talks for Gabriel Jesus because [Inter] can't bid for €60million (£50m) or €50million (£41m) so we're just talking about ideas and rumours," Romano added.
"But I'm sure that Gabriel Jesus' situation, alongside of Raheem Sterling's situation, is something that needs to be clarified in the coming months for Manchester City. They're both out of contract in 2023.
"For Gabriel Jesus, they need to discuss internally and see what they want to do because, with a new striker joining Manchester City in the summer, I'm not sure that the position of Gabriel Jesus will be so clear."
Jesus - who joined City from Palmeiras in a £27million transfer in January 2017 - started up front in the 2-0 FA Cup win over Peterborough United on Tuesday night.
Manager Pep Guardiola regards the player highly and declared in February he is the best in the business at leading the press.
"He can play in the three positions up front, and when we need players who can help a lot, he's the best in the world," Guardiola said of Jesus.
"[With him] We can be so aggressive, we can get extra rhythm for midfield players, can stay high."
