Gabriel Jesus is edging closer to full fitness after a lengthy spell out with a serious knee injury, but questions are already being asked about his long-term future at the club.
The Brazilian forward has not featured since suffering an ACL injury against Manchester United in January, and while his recovery is progressing, he is not expected to play again until the start of 2026.
Had he been fit in the summer, there is every indication that the club would have looked to move him on. Instead, his rehabilitation has played out quietly, while speculation about what happens next has begun to build.
Reports in Brazil suggest several clubs have expressed interest in bringing him home, though few appear willing/able to meet the £30 million valuation placed on him.
His injury record, combined with his salary, will also prove a major stumbling block.
Everton have now emerged as a possible destination, with the club reportedly exploring a January move.
To make it happen, they would not only need to cover his transfer fee but also make him their highest-paid player. Jesus earns around £265,000 per week. Jack Grealish is understood to be on £225,000 per week, while Jordan Pickford earns close to £125,000.
Jesus’s current Arsenal deal runs until 2027, but his career since joining from Manchester City in 2022 has been defined as much by his unavailability as anything else.
In total, he has made 96 appearances, scoring 26 goals and providing 20 assists. Over the same period, he has missed 90 matches for club and country through a succession of injuries, including five separate knee problems.