Arsenal have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester City to sign Gabriel Jesus.
There is still work to do to finalise the deal, including medical and personal terms but the fee is understood to be £45m.
Arsenal are also expected to go back in with improved bid for Leeds United forward Raphinha.
The north London club put in nearly six months of work with Jesus’ representative Marcello Pettinati to ensure they were in pole position to recruit him from the Premier League champions this summer.
Jesus indicated his desire to move to the Emirates at the start of June and the only hindrance so far has been the distance between the valuations of both clubs.
Jesus wants to reunite with Mikel Arteta, who would regularly offer individual coaching and advice when serving as assistant to Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal’s strength of pursuit, the fact they are desperately in need of an attacker in his mould, and the opportunity for Jesus to assume more responsibility appeals.
Arteta is without a senior striker after the expiry of Alexandre Lacazette’s contract and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exit to Barcelona.
