Pundit Paul Merson has advised forward Gabriel Jesus not to leave Manchester City in the summer to join Premier League rivals Arsenal.
The Gunners are tracking Gabriel Jesus as a potential replacement for Aubameyang and some experts have suggested that the forward is equally keen to secure an exit from the Etihad at the end of this season.
Arsenal can offer Jesus regular game time next season which is why the 25-year-old is probably so interested in changing allegiances. Merson though thinks the Brazilian should stay put at Man City, even if Pep Guardiola gets his hands on Erling Haaland.
“Gabriel Jesus should stay at Manchester City. There’s speculation about his future and people think he’s unhappy he doesn’t play enough – but he’s started 17 Premier League games this season,” Merson told the Daily Star.
“I think that’s a lot. He’s played 36 times for City this season. And started a lot of big, big games. Where is he going to go where he can do any better than that?
Gabriel Jesus has seven goals in his last five starts 🤙
Manchester City are back on top of the Premier League after beating Leeds 4-0 pic.twitter.com/uon3rxQ7Ul
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“Even if City sign Erling Haaland, he shouldn’t leave. No way. This is a team that is going to go deep in four competitions every year and he will always get games.
“Pep Guardiola trusts him. He misses a lot of chances but you can play him anywhere in the forward line and he always keeps trying to get in there.
“He still has a big role to play this season.”
Should Gabriel Jesus remain at Manchester City?
City are very close to signing Haaland and once that deal is done, Gabriel Jesus will surely fall down the pecking order. We are not sure why Merson wants him to stay at Manchester City because he’s hardly going to get any game time next season.
Yes, he can play through the middle as well as on the wings but in each position, Guardiola has some very solid players. The City boss has Sterling, Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez and even Bernardo Silva can play out on the wing.
Man City failed to sign a centre-forward last summer but still, Gabriel Jesus is being used as a substitute this season so there’s no way he will be important to Guardiola’s plans once Erling Haaland comes in.
The 25-year-old should very much take his chances and secure a move to Arsenal because Aubemayang’s already gone and even Lacazette will leave in the summer so Gabriel Jesus can become the undisputed striker at the club next season.
