If Gabriel Jesus must go, he must meet four criteria before doing so.

Gabriel Jesus has recently been linked with a move to the Saudi Professional League.

Jesus, now 27, was left out of Brazil’s Copa America 2025 team and became a part-time player for Arsenal near the end of last season.

With a new top scorer on the way and Kai Havertz in good form, Arsenal may look to adjust Jesus’ role in the squad after he moved from Manchester City in search of first-team play.

Being reduced to a squad player and failing to make the Brazil team may prompt Jesus to conclude that his top-level career in Europe is ended. His options would be to accept being a Sylvain Wiltord-type player at Arsenal, to play first-team football at a lower level in Europe, or to accept the large salary offered in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi Pro League, like the Chinese Super League before it, targets South American and African players who play in Europe. These guys have already gone through major life changes to relocate to another continent, so they will be more willing to do it again.

Unlike European-born players such as Jordan Henderson, they are more likely to be able to swiftly adapt to the new culture because they have done so before.

Arsenal will acquire a new striker.

Kai Havertz was on fire at the end of last season, playing down the centre. Gabriel Jesus was reduced to the position of second-choice striker.

With Eddie Nketiah demonstrating that he is not at the top level and almost destined to leave within the next five weeks, we are left with only two strikers: Havertz and Jesus.

We need two elite strikers so we can rest, rotate, and make in-game alterations. Jesus will only be permitted to depart if a fresh striker is brought in.

Arsenal will sign a new winger

Even if a new striker is signed, Jesus will continue to play an important role for the team.

In his new role, Jesus will remain the third-choice striker. If Havertz returns to his deeper role, that becomes the second choice. He also provides coverage and competitiveness on the wing.

Jesus has played on the left and right wings for Brazil and Manchester City for the most of his career. If he stopped playing upfront on a regular basis, Mikel Arteta would consider him on both flanks.

On the left wing, it would not be difficult to argue that Jesus is a better choice than Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard. And if Martinelli maintains his starting position, Jesus will be his natural cover and rival.

We’ve been seeking for cover for Bukayo Saka over on the right for quite some time. Jesus, Martinelli, and Trossard would provide the cover.

With a new striker, we’d have four wingers competing for two slots. A lovely spot to be!

If Jesus leaves, we’ll be back at 3 for 2 and will need to look for a new winger.

Large fee

As it stands, Jesus fills two roles at Arsenal.

He is the second-choice striker and is also being considered for a starting role on the flank. It will need two signings to replace him. And each of those acquisitions would have to be an upgrade over Jesus.

We’ve been closely linked to Viktor Gyokeres and Nico Williams. Both would be better than Jesus and would most likely cost between £100-120 million.

While we do not anticipate to fund the entire amount for two new arriving players, we would like to mitigate the significant possible outgoings.

From a PSR and accounting perspective, we still need to account for £27 million of Jesus’ £45 million transfer fee. Any profit in the 2024/25 accounts is around £27 million (since the totality of any unamortised fee must be accounted for in the same month a player leaves).

A charge of £55 million has been quoted for Jesus. This will result in a profit of £28 million in the 2024/25 financial year. If Gyokeres and Williams are bought for a combined £120 million, they will cost £24 million in 2024/25.

I would expect any profit for Jesus to at least cover the first-year amortisation costs of his successors. So we’re looking at upwards of £50 million.

Pay his pay.

Gabriel Jesus reportedly earns an eye-watering £265k each week. While some may now dispute our decision, it was one that allowed us to return to the Champions League and compete for the title.

To compete with Manchester City, we must compete for the greatest players, which includes offering the finest salaries. Manchester City players are paid an average of £146k each week. Our weekly average is £119k. Jesus makes less than Jack Grealish and only slightly more than Phil Foden.

Any team that signs Jesus must be able to give at least pay parity; a player will never leave a club for a lower salary.

Arsenal do not want to be in a scenario where we are boosting the salary of players who are no longer with the club. We’d rather keep Jesus than pay him £100,000 per week to play for someone else.

Fortunately, money isn’t an issue for Saudi clubs, and Jesus can certainly expect to treble his earnings if he moves.

However, his salary precludes him from joining another European club. Few will be able to offer him first-team football and the salary he is on.

Do I believe Jesus will leave? My feeling is that we are not deliberately selling him, but that, like many of our squad players, we will let him go if a better substitute is found, and the finances of both his departure and incoming transfers work in our favour.

Keep an eye on Jesus and Thomas Partey throughout the summer…

Keenos