Barcelona are close to completing an £8.6m (£10m) deal for Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus, with the Brazil international expected to undergo a medical on Monday before the transfer is finalised ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
The move is at an advanced stage, although some details still need to be settled. Jesus, 29, is expected to join Barcelona, who won last season’s Spanish league title, despite interest from Napoli.
His proposed transfer also explains his absence from Arsenal training before their Premier League match against Aston Villa on Monday, which kicks off at 20:00 BST.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked about Jesus’ situation during a media briefing on Thursday after it became clear the striker was not working with the rest of the squad.
When questioned on whether the decision indicated that Jesus was leaving the club, Arteta said: “Personal situations, whatever they are, I think it’s clear.”
Jesus moved to Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022. He has since made 123 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists.
If completed, his transfer would become Barcelona’s third signing from a Premier League club during the summer. The Spanish club have also brought in Anthony Gordon from Newcastle and Rodri from Manchester City.
Barcelona had also been pursuing Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, who was an Arsenal target. However, that interest appeared to reach a dead end earlier this week after sources told BBC Sport that Atletico Madrid would not negotiate with their Spanish rivals.
The expected departure of Jesus comes as Arsenal prepare to lose another Brazil international, with winger Gabriel Martinelli set to travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for a medical at Al-Hilal.
A fee of at least £50m is understood to have been agreed for Martinelli, 25, after Arteta made clear that the winger was not part of his plans.
Martinelli is expected to sign a four-year contract with Al-Hilal. The Saudi Arabian club are believed to have offered him wages significantly higher than the reported £180,000-a-week deal he currently has at Arsenal.
Arsenal’s agreement to sell both players would represent a major change to the club’s attacking options. Jesus is poised to leave for Barcelona once the final elements of the deal are completed, while Martinelli’s move to Al-Hilal is dependent on the outcome of his medical in Saudi Arabia.
The deadline for Jesus’ transfer is Tuesday, with the medical scheduled for Monday and the remaining terms still to be finalised.
