Arsenal star’s former club abandons pursuit due to high wage demands | OneFootball

Brazilian club Palmeiras have reportedly abandoned their pursuit of Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, predictably citing his exorbitant salary demands as the main obstacle.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 23: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal applauds the fans as he leaves the field following his substitution during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Arsenal FC at Anfield on December 23, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Following the departure of Endrick to Real Madrid, Palmeiras were keen to strengthen their attacking options and identified Jesus as a potential target. However, according to UOL’s Raphael Reis, the club has now deemed the move “impossible” due to the striker’s wages.

Jesus, who currently earns around £265,000 per week at Arsenal, commands a salary that is equal to the combined earnings of Palmeiras’ top eight earners. Even if the Brazilian international agreed to halve his salary, he would still be earning twice as much as the highest-paid player in Brazil according to Sport Witness.

This has forced Palmeiras to abandon their plans to sign Jesus and shift their focus to other targets in the transfer market, although anyone paying even the slightest bit of attention could have told you how this would all end when they were first rumoured to be interested in a move for the striker last month.

Arsenal’s Brazilian striker #09 Gabriel Jesus celebrates after scoring his team first goal during the English Premier League football match between Nottingham Forest and Arsenal at The City Ground in Nottingham, central England, on January 30, 2024. (Photo by PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

The news comes amidst reports that Arsenal are open to selling Jesus this summer if a suitable offer is received. The Gunners are looking to strengthen their squad, and the sale of the Brazilian could provide much-needed funds for new signings. He is currently valued at around €65m with three years left on his current Arsenal contract. Arsenal paid €52.2m for Jesus in the summer of 2022 when they bought him from Manchester City.

While Palmeiras were reportedly interested in a loan deal for Jesus ahead of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Arsenal have zero incentive to agree to such a move as it wouldn’t generate the necessary funds for their transfer plans and they’d likely end up having to subsidise a large chunk of his wages.

With Palmeiras out of the picture (were they ever realistically in it?), Arsenal will continue to assess offers for Jesus. However, his high salary may prove to be a stumbling block for potential suitors, making a summer departure less likely.