Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has ‘fully embraced’ the idea of joining Napoli this summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (page 12).
Jesus was the Gunners’ third-choice striker behind Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz last term, and made just 14 Premier League appearances.
The Brazilian was largely a league substitute, and the Gunners seem open to permitting his departure for around £17 million this summer.
Napoli have ‘intense‘ interest in signing him. Gazzetta dello Sport today claim that talks will intensify with Romelu Lukaku’s impending exit.
The Belgian’s likely departure to Fenerbahce could pave the way for Napoli to sign defensive duo Benoit Badiashile and Costantino Favasuli.
Jesus remains a mere dream, but it could become a ‘very concrete’ possibility if Noa Lang and Lorenzo Lucca were to leave alongside Lukaku.
The Gunners ace has ‘fully embraced’ the idea of moving to Italy with Napoli, and the onus is on the Serie A outfit to make a formal approach.
The former Manchester City man returned from a long-term knee injury in December last year.
He had minimal playing time in the top-flight. Jesus managed only 421 minutes across 14 appearances. Only three of those outings were from the starting XI.
This included 75 minutes in the final league game of the campaign at Crystal Palace, which was a dead-rubber with the title already sealed by the Gunners.
Jesus has entered the last year of his contract at Arsenal. He may have to accept a similar role if he decides to stay and leave on a free transfer in July 2027.
At Napoli, he could get the opportunity to lead the line. Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri has played with a 3-4-2-1 formation since his appointment recently.
However, he was primarily using a 3-5-2 formation at AC Milan last term and could have plans to do the same with Jesus and Rasmus Hojlund starting together.
Jesus, described as ‘special ‘by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, now needs to play the waiting game to find out whether Napoli can offload Lang and Lucca soon.
Lang is an option for Ajax as they prepare for Mika Godts’ exit, likely to Paris Saint-Germain.
Jesus may still need to accept a sizeable pay cut on his £265,000 per week wages. Napoli’s highest earner is Kevin De Bruyne at £182,000 per week followed by Hojlund at £152,000 weekly.
The 29-year-old may have to accept a 40 percent pay cut to make the switch to Naples if Napoli were to find a suitable agreement with Arsenal regarding the fee.
Stats from Transfermarkt & Capology