Arsenal talks opened as €52m star closes in on dream transfer

Palmeiras have opened talks with Arsenal over a January loan deal for Gabriel Jesus, according to Brazilian media.

The 28-year-old is back available for the Gunners after spending almost a year out injured due to an ACL tear. Jesus returned to Arsenal’s matchday squad for Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea, but he did not get on the pitch.

Due to his injury and the signing of Viktor Gyokeres in the summer, his future has been a hotly debated topic in the Brazilian press. Jesus is out of contract in 2027, which means that Arsenal will have to sell next year unless they plan on handing him an extension.

For years now, Jesus has been linked with a return to his formative club Palmeiras, and the club did previously make a concrete enquiry about his availability.

However, it is thought that the striker is not yet ready to return, as he feels that he still has a couple of years at a high European level in the tank. He recently admitted as much when he insisted that he wants to stay at Arsenal and win trophies.

Palmeiras open Jesus talks

Despite this, reports are now coming out of Brazil, claiming that Palmeiras have opened talks with Arsenal over a potential January loan. According to club insider Diego Firmino, discussions have gone beyond a merely exploratory phase.

Palmeiras are offering the Gunners a six-month loan with an option to purchase Jesus in the summer, although the value of this permanent element remains undisclosed. Jesus cost Arsenal a sizeable €52.2 million when he joined from Man City in 2022.

It is acknowledged that these talks are unlikely to advance should Mikel Arteta opt to use Jesus regularly in upcoming games. However, the journalist doubts that this will happen, given that Gyokeres is now also fit again.

Jesus wants to return to the Brazil fold ahead of the 2026 World Cup and needs regular minutes. He has repeatedly admitted that he dreams of returning to his boyhood club in the future, but it seems that this fairytale comeback could materialise sooner than anyone anticipated.

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