Arsenal face fight to cling on to star forward as ‘Real Madrid and Barcelona both set sights on Gunners transfer raid’
ARSENAL are reportedly bracing themselves for a battle to hang on to Gabriel Jesus as both Real Madrid and Barcelona plot a transfer swoop.
The Brazilian forward, 26, only moved to the Emirates from Manchester City in a £45million deal in the summer of 2022.
He scored 11 goals in the Premier League as the Gunners were pipped to the title by his former club last season.
And Jesus has only managed to find the net once in seven top-flight appearances so far this campaign.
However, it is allegedly his form in the Champions League that is catching the eye of the two biggest teams in LaLiga.
He scored in Arsenal’s 2-1 win at Sevilla on Tuesday to put them top of Group B, meaning he has three goals and an assist from his three outings in the competition this term.
Now Spanish outlet AS are claiming that Real Madrid are ready to try and make Jesus their new No.9 in the summer as they search for Karim Benzema’s long-term successor.
Spanish veteran Joselu joined on loan from Espanyol after the Frenchman departed for Saudi Arabia in August but that was only a short-term solution.
And the reported £65.1m valuation of the Samba star makes him an attractive and cheaper option than some other potential targets.
However, they will allegedly face stiff competition from bitter rivals Barcelona.
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They have been linked with Jesus several times in the past and they are also looking for someone to take over from 35-year-old Robert Lewandowski.
But Arteta will be reluctant to lose the experienced forward from his ranks.
Jesus has now scored 23 times in the Champions League and is only the second player to score in his first three appearances in the competition for Arsenal after Marouane Chamakh achieved the feat back in 2011.
Speaking after the win over Sevilla, he said: “I don’t know why, but ever since my debut in the Champions League I have scored goals.
“It’s a competition I love but I haven’t won it so now I am looking to pick up this beautiful trophy.
“Obviously that is not going to be easy, but we all have to believe we can do it or there is no point in being here.
“So now it is about keeping this energy for the rest of our group games and this result gives us a bit more confidence in this competition.”
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