Arsenal player trains alone as Napoli pursue transfer

Gabriel Jesus remains Napoli boss Massimiliano Allegri’s preferred striker signing, with the Arsenal player now training alone.

Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Napoli are still working on strengthening their attack in the final days of the summer transfer window, and they’re looking at various players to do so.

But Di Marzio claims Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus remains Massimiliano Allegri’s favourite, even if Napoli are exploring other options in parallel.

While Arsenal and Napoli work on a possible transfer, Jesus is training away from his Gunners teammates at the moment, with Mikel Arteta explaining why.

“It’s something to do with the numbers that we have in the squad at the moment and the way we’re managing that kind of situation individually with all the players – they have some personal situations,” Arteta said.

“Yes, for sure (he’s spoken to Jesus). Those conversations go both ways, but I’m very satisfied with how these conversations went because I know what is in each other’s hearts.

“The words that come through in those conversations make me really happy. It’s inevitable at some point you need to have certain discussions and say certain things that sometimes are tough.”

Previous reports had suggested that Jesus had indicated some hesitance towards joining Napoli, and it’s unclear whether that’s changed at this stage.

There had been some optimism earlier this month, when Fenerbahce agreed a deal to sign Romelu Lukaku from Napoli. That was the first of the exits required to go ahead of the Italian club to move for Jesus.

But things have moved slower than expected since then. With Jesus’ contract expiring next year, this is Arsenal’s last real chance to cash in on the player, and it seems they’re pushing to do so in the final few days of the window.

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