Everton keen on signing Gabriel Jesus as Moyes targets striking solution

Everton target Gabriel Jesus in £20m deal

Everton are reportedly keen on signing Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus as manager David Moyes looks to solve the club's longstanding problems in attack, according to Football Insider.

The Toffees have struggled for goals this season, and the Brazilian international—valued at around £20 million—has emerged as a target for the Merseyside club.

Why Moyes needs a striker

Since returning to Goodison Park, Moyes has overseen a tactical shift, but the team's lack of a consistent goalscorer remains a glaring weakness. Everton currently sit 16th in the Premier League, having scored just 27 goals in 28 league matches—the third-lowest tally in the division.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has managed only five league goals this season, while summer signing Beto has failed to establish himself as a regular starter. The club had already moved to reinforce the centre-forward position by purchasing Thierno Barry from Villarreal, but the young Ivorian is still adapting to English football.

Moyes is known for building his teams around a focal point in attack, often a target man or a mobile forward capable of leading the line. During his first spell at Everton, he relied on the physical presence of players like Duncan Ferguson and Romelu Lukaku. Gabriel Jesus, though not a traditional centre-forward, offers versatility and a proven track record in the Premier League.

Gabriel Jesus at Arsenal

The 27-year-old joined Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022 for £45 million and has since made 67 appearances in all competitions, scoring 19 goals. However, a knee injury suffered in November 2024 sidelined him for four months, and he has struggled to regain a regular starting spot under Mikel Arteta.

With Kai Havertz now operating as Arsenal's primary striker and young talents like Eddie Nketiah and Folarin Balogun pushing for minutes, Jesus has been linked with a move away from the Emirates. Arsenal are likely to demand a fee in the region of £20 million—a significant discount on the price they paid three years ago.

Jesus’s versatility is a key asset; he can play across the front line and is known for his pressing ability, work rate, and link-up play. For Everton, he would offer a different dimension to Calvert-Lewin, who is more of a penalty-box poacher.

Fantasy Premier League implications

For FPL managers, a move to Everton could reignite Jesus’s fantasy potential. Currently owned by just 3.2% of managers, he has averaged 3.9 points per game this season, partly due to his reduced minutes. If he becomes Everton's main striker, his price tag of around £7.0 million could offer value, especially considering Everton's favourable upcoming fixtures against Bournemouth (H), Wolves (A), and Burnley (H).

Low ownership: Only 3.2% of FPL managers currently own Jesus, making him a potential differential.
Price drop: His current price of £6.8m reflects his lack of game time; a move could see it rise.
Fixtures: Everton face three winnable matches in the next five gameweeks, boosting his appeal.

What this means for Arsenal and Everton

Arsenal, chasing the Premier League title, are unlikely to stand in Jesus’s way if an acceptable offer arrives. The sale would provide funds for Arteta to reinvest in his squad, possibly targeting a midfielder or a wide forward to strengthen depth for the Champions League run-in.

For Everton, signing Jesus would represent a statement of intent under Moyes. However, the deal is far from complete; other clubs may enter the bidding, and Jesus’s wage demands could prove a stumbling block. The Toffees are working within Financial Fair Play constraints, and paying a £20 million fee plus substantial wages may require departures.

Historical precedents

Everton have a history of reviving careers of Premier League cast-offs. The most notable recent example is the loan signing of Dele Alli in 2022, though that move ultimately failed. More successfully, the club signed James Rodriguez in 2020, who provided a creative spark before injuries intervened. Jesus, should he join, would hope to follow the path of players like Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta—stars who thrived at Goodison Park under Moyes's guidance.

What's next

With the summer transfer window approaching, expect Everton to intensify their pursuit. Football Insider suggests that initial contact has been made, and Moyes is pushing for a quick resolution to allow the player to integrate during pre-season. Arsenal, meanwhile, will wait to see if other suitors emerge, with a bidding war potentially driving up the price. The coming weeks will be decisive.