Former international Steve McManaman has tipped Gabriel Jesus to snub Chelsea and Tottenham to sign for Arsenal this summer. According to Steve McManaman, Gabriel Jesus can be the main man at Arsenal if he joins the Gunners.
Arsenal has identified Gabriel Jesus as the replacement for Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer. The Gunner confirmed that Alexandre Lacazette will leave the club as a free agent this summer and the French international had joined his former club, Lyon. This leaves Eddie Nketiah as the only center forward in the Arsenal squad.
Mikel Arteta has worked with the Brazilian international at Manchester City and He is keen to reunite with Jesus again.
The Gunner face strong competition from Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspurs this summer. Chelsea is expected to lose Romelu Lukaku on loan to Inter Milan and Thomas Tuchel will be seeking to sign Jesus as Lukaku’s replacement.
Tottenham Hotspurs have already been busy in the transfer window in their quest to Mount a strong challenge in the Premier League and the Champions League next season. Gabriel Jesus will be a good signing for Antonio Conte’s side.
However, McManaman has been tipped to join Arsenal this summer despite Arsenal not featuring in the Champions League next season.
What did Steve McManaman say?
Speaking via HorseRacing.net, The former Manchester City and Liverpool winger said: “Is Gabriel Jesus better than what Arsenal have got? The answer is yes.
“Manchester City are more than happy to let him go because they brought in Erling Haaland, so have Man City improved in that area? Probably, yes.
“It’s only natural that Gabriel Jesus will start to look at Haaland and think that it’s time to leave. He has the potential to go to Arsenal and be their star man.
“There are Brazilian and Portuguese-speaking players at Arsenal already. Mikel Arteta has worked with him before and he’ll be the main man.
“Alexandre Lacazette has moved on and I know they’ve just re-signed Eddie Nketiah to a new deal, but Jesus will probably come in and know that he’s playing every week and that center-forward spot is his own.
“It works for everybody, It’s pointless for Manchester City keeping him if he’s going to be unhappy.
“Arsenal needs a center-forward and he can be the main man as he already has huge amounts of Premier League experience, and it pays the bills for the Erling Haaland move.
“He has been linked with Chelsea and Tottenham too, so the factor of playing in the Champions League would weigh on your mind.
“You always want to play in the Champions League and the same goes for Jesus. He’s used to being successful with Manchester City so, of course, you want to play at the team which offers you Champions League football.
“Tottenham is less of a choice for him because they’ve got Harry Kane and Heung-min Son, who’ve both had great seasons, so suddenly that becomes a competition for you.
“For Chelsea, it’ll all depend on whether of course, Raheem Sterling turns up there or Romelu Lukaku goes, but they’ve got a plethora of people there, so Arsenal are the one team crying out for his type of player and of course, he’s worked with Mikel Arteta so maybe that negates the fact that they’re not in the Champions League.
“He can go there and be comfortable with someone he knows already.”
