Arsenal ‘are the current favourites to sign Man City striker Gabriel Jesus in the summer’

Arsenal are currently the favourites to sign Gabriel Jesus and the Man City striker is open to the move, according to reports.

The Gunners will look to strengthen their attacking options in the summer transfer window with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah set to leave the club on free transfers.

Mikel Arteta would therefore only have current wide forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pepe as central options, and The Athletic therefore claim the north London side are exploring the possibility of signing the 25-year-old Brazilian.

Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a summer move for Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus

The report claims Arsenal technical director Edu has been holding talks with the Brazil international’s representatives for a number of months, while boss Arteta worked with him in his previous role at the Etihad Stadium.

Jesus’s deal at Man City expires in the summer of 2023 and that would appear to  enhance the prospect of a move, but negotiations have not begun between the two clubs.

Jesus – who signed for City from Palmeiras in 2016 – has started a mere 16 Premier League games for Pep Guardiola’s men this season and has scored just three goals in those matches.

His game time is also likely to be reduced even further if City complete the signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund as expected.

The Gunners are in need of a new striker with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah leaving

Arsenal technical director Edu is understood to have held talks with Jesus’ representatives

The Brazil striker has previously worked with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta (left) at City

Sportsmail understand Haaland, 21, has agreed a mouthwatering package worth more than £500,000-a-week – which would make him the Premier League’s top earner – with City ahead of the summer transfer window.

All that’s left to be ironed out is a transfer fee between City and Dortmund, which would spell bad news for Jesus.

As a result, the striker is understood to be open to joining Arsenal at the end of the season, although he is not the north London club’s only target.

Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is also believed to be on their radar along with a number of other options. 

Erling Haaland’s impending arrival at City is only likely to reduce his game time even more

Jesus is therefore open to the idea of reuniting with Arteta in north London this summer

When asked what he wants from a potential new striker last month, Arteta said: ‘He puts the ball in the net, that’s priority number one. Goal threat. 

‘Any successful team needs enough goal threat in the squad. Without it, you have nothing.

‘You can play good football but you need enough goal threat in the team. The other thing is that he has to complement the other people we have, personally and on the pitch, and for that, we need the right profile.’

Jesus has made a total of 229 appearances for City, scoring 89 goals and winning three Premier League titles, as many League Cups and the FA Cup.