‘He’s in the 100 club!’ – Pundit says he would rather see Arsenal sign Lukaku over Jesus

Joe Williams
Darren Bent wishes Romelu Lukaku had signed for Arsenal

Darren Bent would rather see Arsenal sign Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku over Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus.

Lukaku is set to sign for Inter Milan on loan until the end of the season with widespread reports claiming that a fee has been agreed with Chelsea for the temporary switch.

The Belgium international only signed for the Blues from the Italian side last summer in a £97.5m deal but the transfer has not gone to plan.


Now Chelsea are making ‘last-ditch phone calls’ just 70 days before window closes


Lukaku fell out of favour under Thomas Tuchel with the 29-year-old seemingly unsuitable for the German’s style of play, while his effort was also criticised.

He did finish as the club’s top goalscorer for the season on 15 goals but only eight of those were scored in the Premier League.

Arsenal are looking to sign a striker of their own with Gabriel Jesus heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

But Bent insists that he would’ve been “over the moon” had Lukaku made the transfer to Arsenal over the current transfer window.

Bent told talkSPORT: “I’d take Lukaku on loan, 100%. I’d be over the moon. I look at Lukaku and I think he wants to go somewhere where he’s going to feel most loved, and at Inter Milan he was fantastic.

“He scored a lot of goals and felt the passion from the Inter fans. The fact that he’s clamoring to get back there and taking a 25 per cent pay cut, it almost looks like he can’t get out of this country quick enough.”

When asked whether he would rather Arsenal sign Lukaku or Jesus, Bent replied: “Lukaku, I would. I’ve seen him score goals regularly. He’s in the 100 club!”

Meanwhile, Kevin Campbell thinks Raphinha’s versatility will be a “beautiful thing” next season if Arsenal can get a deal over the line for Leeds United’s Brazilian, while Bukayo Saka could also switch positions.

Former Arsenal striker Campbell told Football Insider: “Yes, Saka could play on the left.  They both could, to be honest. That is the beautiful thing. They can both play on either flank.

“Saka has been overused, let’s be brutally honest. [Nicolas] Pepe should have been coming in and carrying the can but Mikel Arteta couldn’t rely on him. He needs somebody he can rely on.

“If Saka is on the bench and Raphinha is playing you know you are going to get quality and work rate at the top end of the pitch. You also know that he is going to beat his man. That is what you want.

“You can mix and match and interchange. Those pieces can move around. That is key.”