Report: Arsenal making progress on potential £50M deal for Gabriel Jesus

Arsenal are working on a deal to sign Manchester City's Gabriel Jesus, according to The Telegraph's James Ducker.

City reportedly asked Arsenal to pay up to £50 million for the Brazilian striker after turning down an initial bid worth £30 million.

Despite the discrepancy, talks between the two sides are reportedly progressing.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta - who watched Jesus up close during his time as an assistant to Pep Guardiola - reportedly sees Jesus as the perfect fit for his team. The 25-year-old would replace Alexandre Lacazette - who left the Gunners on a free transfer earlier in June - and augment an attack that finished sixth in Premier League scoring last season.

City are ready to cash in on Jesus, who only has a year remaining on his contract and could walk away for nothing next summer. The reigning Premier League champions completed the signing of Norwegian forward Erling Haaland this week and added highly touted 22-year-old striker Julian Alvarez in January. Alvarez spent the remainder of the 2021-22 campaign on loan at River Plate.

Jesus' agent, Marcelo Pettinati, said in May that Arsenal were a "possibility" for his client.

"We had talks with Arsenal about Gabriel Jesus," Pettinati said at the time. "We like the project. It's a possibility we're discussing. There are six more clubs interested in Gabriel."

Jesus recorded 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season.