Real Madrid identify Arsenal star as ‘ideal striker’ signing as Perez draws up four-man hit list

Joe Williams
Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus looks frustrated

Real Madrid are looking to sign four players in the summer transfer window, including Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus, according to reports.

The Gunners signed the Brazilian in the summer transfer window for around £45m from Manchester City with Jesus hitting the ground running at the Emirates Stadium.

He was one of their best players as they showed brilliant early season form with Jesus contributing five goals and five assists in 16 Premier League matches so far this term.

Jesus was ruled out for over three months after suffering a knee injury playing for Brazil at the World Cup but has returned just in time for the run-in.

Arsenal are well placed to keep their squad together in the summer and add more quality with Mikel Arteta’s side currently eight points clear at the top of the Premier League and on course to qualify for the Champions League.

However, Spanish publication Defensa Central claims that Real Madrid see Arsenal star Jesus as their ‘ideal striker’ with president Florentino Perez looking for a ‘second sword’ to compliment Karim Benzema or to cover his possible departure.

Jesus’ ‘ability to play on the wings is also an essential requirement to sign’ with the Arsenal striker possessing the exact ‘profile’ that Real Madrid are looking for.

Perez is also hoping to bring in another three players in the summer transfer market with ‘a defender, a midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder  and a striker’ on his summer hit list.

The Real Madrid president sees them as ‘mandatory’ transfers and he hopes they will ‘recover much of the momentum and inertia with which they began this very season’.

Defensa Central add that the ‘easiest part’ is the defence with Fran Garcia already agreeing to join Real Madrid from Rayo Vallecano at the end of the season.

Borussia Dortmund and England’s Jude Bellingham is their ‘first and last’ target in the box-to-box midfield role, while Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga would be their pick for a creative midfielder.

Arsenal star Jesus recently recalled the “scary” injury he suffered at the World Cup with the Brazilian unable to bend his knee.

“To be honest, I don’t know what happened, I don’t feel nothing but something changed,” Jesus said.

“I kept playing without pain, discomfort, nothing. Then I get subbed off, nothing. Then after, on the bench, it became so big I couldn’t bend my knee and I was so scared you know. I’ve always been good with pain, I have played football since I was 12 years old and have played with pain.”

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