Everton Have To Pay £20m For Their Targeted Striker: Should David Moyes Agree To This? | OneFootball

Arsenal are prepared to consider offers of around £20m for Gabriel Jesus this summer, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirming that multiple clubs have already enquired about the 29-year-old striker. Everton are among the interested parties, according to Football Insider, as the club search for a reliable frontman heading into the new campaign.

Everton are linked with a Premier League champion in a £20m Arsenal transfer pursuit

Thierno Barry, signed from Villarreal last summer for around £27m, has largely failed to have the desired impact, and though Beto has stepped up with five goals in his last six games, inconsistency across both forwards has pushed Everton to look at the striker market seriously. A proven top-flight option like Jesus, therefore, makes considerable sense on paper.

The Brazilian only managed three Premier League starts across the 2025-26 season, scoring three league goals, though he did show flashes of his former self both domestically and in Europe. The chronic nature of the severe knee injuries he has suffered, and Arteta’s shift toward a physically dominant centre-forward profile, are effectively forcing Jesus toward a new club. He returned from an ACL injury in November and contributed sporadically, including a goal against Crystal Palace on the final day, though he also missed three big chances in that same appearance.

Everton face a tough call despite Jesus’s proven quality

Arsenal will not sanction a cheap sale before his deal expires in June 2027, holding firm at their £18-20m asking price despite interest from multiple clubs. AC Milan, Atletico Madrid and Juventus have all made enquiries, though the absence of Champions League football at some of those clubs could prove a barrier.

This is where Everton’s situation becomes genuinely interesting. At £20m, Jesus is not an extravagant outlay for a club with European ambitions, but the real cost sits in the wage structure. He reportedly earns around £265,000 per week, a figure that would significantly strain the budget Everton need to spread wisely across multiple positions this summer.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 15: Gabriel Jesus of Arsenal warms up prior to the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Arsenal and Wigan Athletic on February 15, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Here is what we think. Jesus, at his best, is a striker few clubs at Everton’s level could attract. His pressing, movement and creativity in tight spaces remain elite traits. But his injury record has become a serious concern, and a player who started just three league games in the season just finished is not someone you hand a two or three-year contract to without genuine hesitation.

The fee is manageable. The wages are not. Everton should only pursue this if they secure a short deal with performance-based incentives, because committing heavily to a 29-year-old coming off back-to-back injury disruptions is a gamble that could quietly set Everton back rather than push them forward.