Journalist: Arsenal will have to spend Raphinha-like fee to sign 26-year-old

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CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has told Give Me Sport that Arsenal will have to spend a Raphinha-like fee of £60million to sign Serge Gnabry and bring him back to the Emirates from Bayern Munich this summer.

Gnabry, 26, produced 27 goal involvements in 45 appearances for Bayern last season – as he helped his side win his fourth Bundesliga title. Joining Bayern in 2017, he spent the first season out on loan at Hoffenheim.

In his 171 games for Bayern, he has scored 64 and created 40. We are talking about a proper superstar, here. A far cry from struggling to get game time at Arsenal and being loaned out to the likes of West Brom.

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But with Gnabry entering the final 12 months of his contract and Bayern signing Sadio Mane, he could leave. Reports state that Arsenal face competition from Manchester City – and Jacobs says the Gunners are keen.

However, they will have to spend £60million: “Gnabry is on Arsenal’s radar, for sure, for a sort of 60 million or so fee so not too dissimilar to Raphinha. Arsenal kept bidding for Raphinha and not putting 60 million down on the table.

“If they want Gnabry, they will have to learn a lesson from that and be more decisive and front up that type of fee.”

Jacobs: Arsenal will have to spend Raphinha-like fee to sign Gnabry

What a signing Gnabry would be for the Gunners. It is clear Mikel Arteta is intent on signing a winger this summer, in order to provide further competition for Emile Smith-Rowe, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka.

Nicolas Pepe is likely to go and a return to Arsenal will pull at Gnabry’s heartstrings. He will feel he has unfinished business in North London. But he is a Champions League player, right at the top of his game.

Should he consider a return to the Gunners while they are in the Europa League? Or does the Germany star believe he could be the difference in helping them get back into the top four? An interesting few weeks, ahead.