Man Utd legend Rio Ferdinand urges Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta to sign Man City star

Rio Ferdinand has urged Mikel Arteta to sign Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus as Arsenal seek to replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Arteta exiled Aubameyang after stripping him of the Arsenal captaincy in December and sanctioned his move to Barcelona during the January transfer window.

While Arteta was willing to offload Aubameyang, Arsenal lost a player who had scored 92 goals in 163 games for the club and they will look to sign a replacement for the Gabon striker this summer.

Arsenal attempted to sign a new frontman in January – expressing interest in Dusan Vlahovic, Alexander Isak and Dominic Calvert-Lewin – but were unable to bolster Arteta’s attacking options and it remains to be seen whether that will cost the Gunners a top-four spot.

Ferdinand expects the north London club to sign a new striker at the end of the season and says Man City’s Jesus would be a good option.

Jesus has scored 88 goals in 222 games for Manchester City and helped the club win three Premier League titles, three EFL Cups and the FA Cup since signing from Palmeiras in 2017.

But the Brazilian has never fully established himself as a first-team regular at the Etihad, starting just 15 of City’s 40 matches this season.

Given his limited role at Manchester City, Jesus has repeatedly been linked with a move away from the club and Ferdinand believes he would be a good fit for Premier League rivals Arsenal.

‘If I was Arsenal, I would go and buy Gabriel Jesus,’ the former Manchester United and England defender told the FIVE YouTube channel.

Arteta’s Arsenal are currently sixth in the Premier League but have three games in hand over fourth-placed Manchester United.

Jesus helped Man City beat Championship side Peterborough United 2-0 in the FA Cup