Gabriel Jesus - Manchester City to Arsenal transfer round-up, age, stats and will Lisandro Martinez sign?

Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus has all but signed for Arsenal, after he successfully completed his medical today.

It was a transitional period for Jesus, who was deployed out wide many times as Pep Guardiola’s side won the Premier League, without playing a recognised striker.

A striker is seen as the last piece in Mikel Arteta’s puzzle, with all other positions nicely stacked, a striker is what is missing.

Veterans Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have both left, leaving just Eddie Nketiah as the main striker, who has just signed a new contract.

Aubameyang left North London in January after five years in red and white as he sought a new challenge at Barcelona, whilst Lacazette returned to the club Arsenal signed him from for a free, Olympique Lyonnais.

How old is Gabriel Jesus?

Despite it feeling like Jesus has been around forever, he is only 25-years-old, meaning his best years are yet to come.

What is the reported fee?

With City selling to a sort-of rival, the price was bound to be inflated, but it’s fairly low at around £45 million, with some performance-based add-ons also included.

What are his stats for Manchester City?

After five-and-a-half years in Manchester, Jesus has turned out 158 times for the Citizens, scoring 58 goals.

In all honesty, it doesn’t appear a great return for a team blessed with technically gifted players such as Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and more.

Coupled with the fact he’s never scored more than 14 goals in a single Premier League season in a team crying out for a goalscorer also, on paper, doesn’t look great.

But Guardiola has built his City team around everyone contributing. Aside from Sergio Aguero, who was already at the club when Guardiola joined, he hasn’t signed a goalscorer until the acquisitions of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez.

Will Lisandro Martinez sign?

Another one of Arsenal’s transfer targets is Ajax defender/midfielder Lisandro Martinez. The 24-year-old has shown his versatility for the Dutch giants, turning out at left back, centre back and defensive midfielder, something that has clearly caught Arteta’s eye.

Arsenal’s initial bid was turned down, but they went back in with a bid of around £35 million, and are reportedly ‘confident’ of getting the deal done.

They are ahead in the race to sign Martinez, with Manchester United, managed by Martinez’s former Manager Erik ten Haag also in pursuit.

How will he fit into Mikel Arteta’s team?

Arteta has been a clear admirer of the 4-3-3 system, opting for a back four, a hold midfielder, two more attacking midfielders, two wingers and a striker.

The only piece missing is a striker, but Jesus also has great technical ability, and will also be able to provide for Bukayo Saka and Martinelli.

Arsenal have also splashed the cash on Fabio Vieira, who, coupled with either Emile Smith-Rowe or Martin Odegaard will provide Jesus with many chances.

Who is Gabriel Jesus?

Gabriel Jesus is a Brazilian footballer, who has been at Manchester City for over five years.

Jesus was Born in São Paulo, and grew up in the neighbourhood of Jardim Per and played for a couple of amateur sides before joining the Palmeiras youth academy in 2013.

Guardiola signed the youngster from Palmeiras in 2017, when he was just 20 years old for around £27 million, which was seen as a steal for a highly rated youngster, in a highly inflated market due to a world record fee being set just months prior.