Gabriel Jesus will reportedly earn around £220,000-a-week salary at Arsenal after the Gunners’ verbally agreed’ a deal with Manchester City for the forward.
This claim was made by respected journalist, Ben Jacobs.
Recall that Jesus has been at the top of Arsenal’s list to replace the departed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette.
The Brazilian international only has another 12 months left to run on his current contract at Man City.
Still, Pep Guardiola’s side have been driving a hard bargain for his signature and are believed to be holding out for a £50m fee.
However, speaking to the Football Terrace, Jacobs believes Jesus could be an Arsenal player by the end of the month.
“With Jesus, Arsenal remain the frontrunners and I think that signing is very likely,” Jacobs said.
“Jesus, as I understand it from sources close to the player, is very much sold under the Arteta and Arsenal strategy, and by strategy I mean they’ve sold that move to him based upon a focal point in the team and that is in stark contrast to Manchester City, where he was rotated and his game time was limited.
“So that’s the selling point that Arsenal will give him regular game time. He’ll be the first name on the team sheet and the terms will probably see him earn around £220,000 a week.
“But the talks are advanced and I believe verbally that Arsenal and Manchester City have now agreed upon a fee. City originally priced Jesus at £55m, Arsenal tried to make a comparison with Sadio Mane and pitched an offer informally of closer to £35m and Manchester City were having none of that and they are highly likely, as reported weeks ago, to compromise somewhere in the middle.
“Manchester City essentially want £45m as a base fee, maybe a little bit extra if you count the add-ons that are likely to be guaranteed.
“I don’t think Arsenal have now got any problem negotiating a fee with Manchester City and I don’t think they’ve got too much of an issue finalising the bits and bobs in terms of the package with Jesus, talks are ongoing in that respect, it’s a big week as far as negotiations are concerned and Arsenal have no reason to believe they won’t get the deal done.
“I think that the deal of Jesus to Arsenal is now highly, highly likely and will probably be completed over the next seven to ten days.”
