Gabriel Jesus' Agent Confirms Chelsea Tried To Hijack Arsenal Transfer

Gabriel Jesus’ agent has confirmed Chelsea attempted to hijack Arsenal’s £45 million summer signing of the Brazilian striker. 

Chelsea’s summer signings have started to roll in the past couple of days, with both Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly, who signed on Saturday morning, completing transfers to Stamford Bridge. 

While the Blues have bolstered both their front and backlines with these recruitments, they are still lacking a star striker to lead them up top.  

Following the departure of Romelu Lukaku on loan to Inter Milan, who has most recently claimed his move to Chelsea was a ‘mistake’, the Blues have been on the search for a number nine.  

Currently, Thomas Tuchel has a limited number of options at his disposal, he previously stated: "At the moment, we have Timo (Werner) as a nine, we have Kai (Havertz) as a nine, we have Michy Batshuayi as a number nine, we have Armando Broja as a nine, Raheem Sterling as a nine, maybe, let’s see how things work out.” 

The west London side were reportedly offered the chance to sign Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo but they will not be making a move to sign the Portuguese sensation.  

Another option Chelsea were monitoring was Polish striker Robert Lewandowski.

The Bayern Munich ace wanted a move away from the German outfit, and while the Blues were ‘ready to pounce’, he is set for a move to Barcelona after terms were agreed between all parties.

It has been claimed by Jesus’s agent that the Blues actually tried to hijack a move for the Brazilian before he completed his transfer to Arsenal, having been offered the striker 

The 25-year-old’s agent, Marcelo Pettinati, told Freddie Paxton: “Chelsea were one of the teams that tried to hijack the Arsenal move.

"They tried very hard in the final days to get him. By that point, we’d already chosen our new project.”  

Although Tuchel has previously detailed that it is not the main priority for Chelsea this window to get a replacement striker in, he would have been hoping to acquire the signature of a player with such Premier League experience.  

Should the Blues fail to find that lead striker this summer, Kai Havertz could be their go-to man should Armando Broja depart this summer, with his future still undecided. 

Tuchel said: "Armando is our player first of all and we have, at the moment, no interest in selling him. He is here to make an impression after he was on loan in Southampton. That's his situation from where we look up front. It's good if there's interest as it shows us there's talent and potential.

"It shows us that Armando is in the position to impress and become a Chelsea player. When will he become a Chelsea player? Nobody knows but hopefully as soon as possible. 

“He got injured and there's a delay for him, which is never nice because a young player should normally make an impression from the first minute in pre-season. Now we have a bit of a delay in that but that's the situation.”

While Tuchel is not overly concerned, it would be a surprise if Chelsea do not remain on the hunt for top goalscorer, but the Blues will only make a move if it’s the right opportunity.