Arsenal's £45m star lined up for stunning transfer - 'You're coming back home'

Palmeiras president Leila Pereira has identified Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus as the club's dream target ahead of the January transfer window. The 28-year-old forward, who Arsenal snapped up from Manchester City for £45million during the summer of 2022, has only just returned to training as he battles back to fitness following an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Nevertheless, Jesus has caught the eye of his former club. Speaking to Esporte Record, Pereira openly expressed Palmeiras' desire for the Brazil international, revealing her ambition to lure him back to the Allianz Parque in São Paulo.

Jesus established himself as one of South America's most promising young talents during his stint at Palmeiras. Manchester City splashed out £27million plus add-ons for the then-19 year old, beating numerous elite European clubs to his signature.

"Of course Gabriel Jesus," declared the Palmeiras president. "And I'll say more. Soon you're coming back home, Gabriel! One day you'll return!"

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Jesus sustained his ACL injury during the Gunners' defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round at the start of 2025. The Brazilian had been in sparkling form, netting three goals in his previous four Premier League outings.

Earlier during the festive period, he had also bagged a hat-trick against Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Shortly after being stretchered off at the Emirates Stadium, Jesus went under the knife for his knee operation., with Arsenal since having spent big on Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz proving himself a valuable option.

In March, Jesus took to social media to share that he had successfully completed the first seven weeks of his rehabilitation programme. He has since returned to training at the Sobha Realty Centre.

However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has suggested that Jesus may not be ready for selection until January. Speaking to journalists earlier this month, Arteta said: "He had major surgery that was going to take him many, many months.

"So, after discussing that with the medical staff and understanding the schedule that we had and when we thought that he could be available, that it would be between December and January, we decided to make that call, like we've done in the past with other players.

"Hopefully, we did it wrong and he comes back earlier. But at the moment, the provision was very clear."

Speaking to club media in January 2025, Jesus expressed his ambition to win the Premier League with Arsenal. The Brazilian was an English champion on four separate occasions with City before he arrived at the Emirates Stadium.

"You can see the motivation because the feeling to win a trophy like the Premier League, everyone knows how tough it is," Jesus said. "When you've already won it, you just think I want it again, again and again.

"Arsenal did amazing in the past and we want to come back, so we as players, we want to go there and pay back what they have done and to fight for the fans as well."

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