The proof Liverpool should have signed Gabriel Jesus instead of Darwin Nunez

FT Desk

• 20 Oct 2022 07:51 BST
• 3 min read

Liverpool could have signed Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City this summer. Instead, they paid €100 million to Benfica for Darwin Nunez.

Jesus went to Arsenal instead - for just £45m (€51.6m) - and has since scored five Premier League goals to Darwin's three, and laid on four assists set against the Uruguayan's one.

Arsenal are top of the league, four points clear of City after 10 games played, while Liverpool are down in seventh having made their worst ever Premier League start under Jurgen Klopp - even if Darwin scored the winner against West Ham on Wednesday.

And it now emerges that not only could Liverpool have had Jesus for half the price they paid for Darwin, but the Brazilian is one of only three players in Europe's top seven leagues per UEFA coefficient to score double figures for each of shots on target, chances created, tackles made, take-ons completed and aerial duels won.

Jesus's all-round play has been central to Arsenal's climb up the league table, and his impact, alongside that of fellow former City teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko, has been acknowledged by Gunners manager Mikel Arteta.

Arteta: 'ruthless winers'

"These two player players have been inspired by top players, top professionals, ruthless winners for many years," he said

"When they came to us, the role they took on was different. Now it's their turn to do the same and inspire those younger players in our squad to do the same and to show them what it takes to win.

"I've seen it every day since they arrived. The younger players look at the level of detail, hunger and dedication that you need to keep winning from Gabi and Oleksandr. It has inspired them."

Who else has starred?

By the same measure(s) Jesus is shining, so are Xavi Simons and Dango Ouattara, who play for PSV Eindhoven and Lorient respectively.

Simons was previously a youngster in PSG's youth academy whom they plundered from Barcelona in 2019, while Ouattara has been a revelation with Lorient, and surely has a move to a bigger club ahead of him on his current trajectory.