Manchester City ‘reveal’ stance on Arsenal target as striker deal confidence grows

Premier League champions Manchester City have reportedly placed a ‘substantial’ price tag on one of Arsenal’s main summer transfer targets.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is said to be keen to add City duo Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to his squad during the close-season - and confidence is growing over a potential deal for the latter.

Despite missing out on a lucrative place in next season’s Champions League after losing two of their final three fixtures, Arsenal will have money to spend this summer and a striker is high on Arteta’s list of priorities.

Although the Spaniard’s need to sign a frontman looks set to be reduced by the news Eddie Nketiah is close to committing his future to the club, the expected departure of long-serving striker Alexandre Lacazette will leave Arteta short at the top end of the pitch.

The Telegraph have reported the Gunners are confident they can conclude a deal to sign Brazilian international Jesus as he enters the final 12 months of his current deal with the newly-crowned Premier League champions.

City are believed to have placed a £55million price tag on the striker, and although it seems unlikely Arsenal will pay that fee, they do remain hopeful Jesus will start next season at the Emirates Stadium.

That confidence does not spread to a potential deal for Ukraine international Zinchenko, who is said to have impressed Arteta with his versatility and adaptability.

The 25-year-old has featured at left-back and in midfield for Pep Guardiola’s side as they claimed the Premier League title for the fourth time in the last five seasons and still has two years left on his current deal.

City will demand a sizable fee for his services should they be successful in their pursuit of Brighton and Hove Albion’s highly-rated left-back Marc Cucurella.