Three league goals in 14 games, and a price to match
Barcelona may finally have found their No 9. Mundo Deportivo and Fabrizio Romano, relayed by Foot Mercato, report an agreement with Arsenal for Gabriel Jesus at roughly 10 million euros.
That figure says everything about where the Brazilian stood in London. Contracted until 2027, but no longer part of Mikel Arteta’s plans. Three goals in 14 league outings last season, and a forward line stacked ahead of him.
Jesus is understood to have driven the move himself. Napoli were interested too, and lost out.
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Two months of hunting for a striker, and nothing to show for it
Barcelona have needed a centre-forward since Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres left. Hansi Flick asked for one in June. He was still asking in late August.
The Catalan press insists the board spent the summer chasing Julian Alvarez. That never came close. Jesus is the fallback, at a small fraction of the fee once floated for the Argentine.
One question hung over the whole thing: the knee. After a run of injuries, Barca ran their own checks on his condition, and the feedback reportedly put their minds at rest.
Flick is not promising anyone a starting shirt
The German was blunt in Sunday’s press conference. Raphinha leads the press, times his runs, finishes well. “It’s not a problem for him,” Flick said of the No 9 role.
He also name-checked Hamza Abdelkarim, saying the youngster will get minutes there. Whoever arrives is joining a competition, not inheriting a place.
Tuesday is the deadline. Barcelona have almost no room left.
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