Igor Jesús transfer: Arsenal eyeing Botafogo striker

Arsenal are reportedly weighing up their options ahead of this January’s transfer window, with a surprise new name among their top three targets.

As well as familiar faces such as Benjamin Sesko and Evan Ferguson, there is also mention of transfer reporter Ben Jacobs from Gunners looking at Botafogo striker Igor Jesus.

The 23-year-old isn’t a particularly big name, and has yet to prove himself at a particularly high level in his career so far.

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However, it seems that Arsenal are looking at him as a potential option to give them more depth up front after injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus.

See Jacobs’ X post on the Arsenal striker’s targets below…

Arsenal assess striker options for January.

Strong interest in Benjamin Sesko, but likely a summer saga.

Evan Ferguson is interested if Brighton sanction an exit, but Arsenal must buy or send Neto back. Raheem Sterling’s loan deal does not have a January break clause.

The Botafogo… pic.twitter.com/6KEZXhDTPx

— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 20, 2025

Jesus is probably not an absolute priority for Arsenal, as one imagines Sesko would be the ideal target if a deal could realistically be done this January.

Ferguson seems another slightly risky option after his recent struggles at Brighton, but Jesus is something of an unknown.

Having only played for Brazil and the United Arab Emirates in his career so far, it is very difficult to know how well he can adapt to the demands of playing for a top-flight club in the Premier League and Champions League .

Who should Arsenal target this January?

Arsenal fans will have their own ideas about who would be the best signing to face this winter, but of course the club must be realistic.

It’s never easy to get the players you want mid-season, and so they have to weigh up how much they need someone, or indeed anyone, to come in right now, or whether it’s worth waiting for better options in the summer.

Jesus could more realistically be available this month, but it’s hard to imagine the Brazilian being a better option than Sesko, who is surely worth waiting until the summer.