Juventus and PSG are reportedly providing competition to Barcelona in the race to sign Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City this summer.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Gabriel Jesus is being tailed by a number of top clubs across Europe over a move in the summer transfer window. The Manchester City striker is on the radar of Barcelona, Juventus and PSG.
Gabriel Jesus arrived at Manchester City in January 2017 brimming with potential and promise, with the Premier League heavyweights staving off stiff competition to secure his services. However, over the last four years or so, the 23-year-old has not progressed as envisioned, with the Brazilian still battling Sergio Aguero for the first-choice berth.
While he has a decent record of 79 goals and 33 assists in 180 appearances in Manchester City colours, it is his inconsistencies that have left a lot to be desired. Nevertheless, it looks like Jesus’s stock within Europe is still pretty high, with Barcelona, Juventus and PSG hot on his trails.
Barcelona parted ways with Luis Suarez last summer but never really got around replacing him with a natural striker. In fact, the only regulation striker at Camp Nou presently is Martin Braithwaite, who is only a bit-part player under Ronald Koeman. Antoine Griezmann could be an option to play centrally, but Lionel Messi has largely been deployed as a central striker this season.
With both Messi and Griezmann facing an uncertain future at Barcelona, it is imperative that the Catalan giants sign a striker, making Jesus a viable target. As for Juventus, Cristiano Ronaldo has been firing on all cylinders but is also reaching the twilight of his career.
With Paulo Dybala enduring a difficult season, it is not hard to see why they would want to bolster their attack this summer, with Jesus an option worth pursuing. Finally, for PSG, Jesus could be a fine long-term solution, considering Mauro Icardi has struggled to impress this season, whereas it is not a given that Moise Kean will be signed permanently in the summer, with Juventus keen on re-signing him.
So, while Barcelona are pursuing a move for Jesus, they now face stiff competition from two of the biggest clubs in Europe in Juventus and PSG. It now remains to be seen if Jesus will stay put at Manchester City beyond the summer or if he ends up making his way out of the Etihad soon.