Journalist reveals Guardiola is even more keen to sell £60m star Arsenal wanted in 2021 instead of Gabriel Jesus
According to Dean Jones, Manchester City would rather sell Riyad Mahrez than Gabriel Jesus, despite Arsenal’s desire.
According to David Ornstein, Edu has been in talks with Jesus’ representatives for some time now, and a deal is in the works.
However, if Jones is to be believed, Pep Guardiola would be more willing to lose Mahrez than the Brazilian international.
Jones told Give Me Sport: “If someone from the front line was to move on, I’m told that Mahrez is the one they might be more open to losing.”
That, in our opinion, does not make much sense.
With the impending arrival of Erling Haaland, Jesus will face stiff competition in his natural position as center-forward.
In that regard, it would be more logical to keep Mahrez and play him to the right of the Norwegian in his natural flank role.
We can only assume that Guardiola now sees Jesus as an out-and-out winger, and that he believes he can perform that job better than the Algerian.
If it is Mahrez who is placed up for sale rather than Jesus, Mikel Arteta may still be interested.
Arsenal inquired for the former Leicester winger last year, but the Citizens informed them that the £60 million guy was not available.
In that regard, if Manchester City truly prefers to pursue a deal for Mahrez, we’d expect Arsenal to be interested.
It is improbable that Arteta and Edu would have signed an alternative after being told no in 2021.
However, the Gunners never identified a replacement for Mahrez on the flanks, so that section of their roster remains vulnerable.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Nicolas Pepe are Arteta’s only natural wide men, and the latter may even leave the Emirates Stadium shortly.
Keep an eye on events at the Etihad Stadium, as Jesus or Mahrez — or both – could leave Manchester for London this summer.
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Journalist reveals Guardiola is even more keen to sell £60m star Arsenal wanted in 2021 instead of Gabriel Jesus
