Fabrizio Romano has said negotiations between Gabriel Jesus and Arsenal are ‘very advanced’, but added Tottenham Hotspur and Paris Saint-Germain are monitoring the situation.
Jesus has been strongly linked with a a departure from Manchester City and the latest reports had claimed Mikel Arteta’s side were ‘closing in’ on the striker, although the clubs remained some way off in their valuation.
But Romano’s tweet on Tuesday night implied a switch to Arsenal is getting ever closer.
“Gabriel Jesus deal update,” he wrote on Twitter. “Arsenal are working on it and negotiations are very advanced - Arsenal will now need to be fast on final, key details involving player/agents to get the deal done and avoid twists.
“Tottenham & PSG, still waiting to see the end of this story,” Romano added.
Jesus would offer a real upgrade to the Gunners’ forward line following the summer departure of Alexandre Lacazette.
The City forward has netted 95 times in 236 appearances for City and ended last term in good form, netting six in his final seven league games.
In 2021/22, he began the campaign largely playing from the right, but ended the season operating predominantly as a central striker.
The questions surrounding Jesus’s best position offer a problem for Arsenal, according to South American football expert Tim Vickery.
He explained to Sky Sports that the 25-year-old seems uncertain about what his best role in the team is, something the Gunners need to iron out before completing a transfer.
“There’s been a sense that he’s running away from that centre-forward position, perhaps running away from the comparisons with [Sergio] Aguero as well,” Vickery explained.
“So what are Arsenal buying? This needs to be very clear if they want to go ahead with this deal? What are they buying? Where does he want to play, where is he going to fit into their system of play?”