Darren Bent tells Arsenal to sign Chelsea flop instead of Gabriel Jesus

Darren Bent has hinted Gabriel Jesus may not be the ideal signing for Arsenal despite the Manchester City striker having been earmarked as Mikel Arteta’s No.1 priority this summer.

With Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang having left the Gunners within the space of six months, Arsenal are short in the striking department.

Eddie Nketiah has committed his future to his boyhood club by signing a new deal having looked destined to leave on a free transfer, but signing a new striker remains a priority for Arteta.

According to reports, the Gunners are closing in the purchase of Jesus having verbally agreed a fee in the region of £45million with the Premier League champions.

Jesus is understood to be keen to reunite with Arteta, having worked with the Arsenal manager during their time together at City, while he is almost guaranteed a starting role at the Emirates.

Despite his obvious credentials, former Spurs stiker Bent believes Chelsea flop Romelu Lukaku would have represented a better fit for Arsenal.

The Belgium international is set to rejoin Inter on loan just 12 months after he left the Serie A club and moved to Stamford Bridge in a £97million club-record deal.

Speaking on talkSPORT Drive, Bent said: ‘I’d take Lukaku on loan, 100%. I’d be over the moon.

‘I look at Lukaku and I think he wants to go somewhere where he’s going to feel most loved, and at Inter Milan he was fantastic.

‘He scored a lot of goals and felt the passion from the Inter fans.

‘The fact that he’s clamoring to get back there and taking a 25 per cent pay cut, it almost looks like he can’t get out of this country quick enough.’

Asked who he’d rather sign out of Lukaku and Jesus, Bent said: ‘Lukaku, I would.

‘I’ve seen him score goals