‘Benzema replacement’: Real Madrid eye £60M Arsenal star player as ‘perfect’ Benzema transfer replacement
Rewind 12 months ago and there was cause for concern at Arsenal over which striker would lead the side out going into this season. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had left by mutual consent to join Barcelona after a disciplinary concern, while Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah were set to leave at the end of their contracts.
The latter stayed on, but the Hale End academy product wasn’t enough for the side going into the campaign, so reinforcements were needed. Edu pulled out all the stops to ensure that the Gunners got their first choice in Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, a stroke of genius for the side despite doubts over his ability to play as an out-and-out centre-forward.
The Brazilian fitted into the team right away as the north London outfit came out of the blocks quickly in the Premier League and are still setting the pace in the division with April on the horizon.
“I think it lifts the standards with the way he’s [Jesus] training every day and the way that he’s talking and the way that they are connecting,” manager Mikel Arteta said last August shortly after the striker’s arrival.
Jesus has been eased back into the side after a long-term injury during the World Cup, but the Gunners will be glad to see him back on the pitch after the period he was sidelined for. However, his displays have clearly garnered the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to Defensa Central, European champions Real Madrid are eyeing a potential switch for Jesus in the coming months. Los Blancos are said to view the forward as an ideal replacement to Karim Benzema, given his ability to impact the game with his all-round play.
Real were also given a boost in their pursuit of non-EU players after gaining citizenship for Vinicius Jr, Eder Militao and Rodrygo, opening up extra spaces in the squad. It remains to be seen if the move is at all plausible, but the Gunners will surely be keen to keep a key player and strengthen the squad even further.
