Arsenal Transfer News: Gabriel Jesus, Adam Wharton, Vaclav Cerny Updates (London 2026)

Key Points

• Gabriel Jesus Transfer Interest: Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has emerged as a transfer target for Premier League sides Everton and Ipswich Town, while Arsenal are reportedly evaluating a January move for FC Lorient prodigy Eli Junior Kroupi, who is currently impressing at Bournemouth.
• Adam Wharton to Stay at Palace: Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has firmly ruled out an immediate exit for midfielder Adam Wharton despite persistent inquiry and transfer interest from Manchester City.
• Rangers in Talks for Vaclav Cerny: Rangers have engaged in discussions with Turkish side Besiktas over a potential deal to bring winger Vaclav Cerny back to Ibrox, though significant financial hurdles remain regarding his valuation and wage demands.

Arsenal (North London News) August 21, 2026 – As reported by Sky Sports, Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus is drawing concrete interest from domestic rivals Everton and Ipswich Town as the North London club evaluates their long-term options in attack. Arsenal have reportedly outlined plans for a potential January swoop for Bournemouth attacker Eli Junior Kroupi, while simultaneously assessing the composition of their forward line. Elsewhere in the top flight, Crystal Palace have rejected inquiries from Manchester City regarding star midfielder Adam Wharton, and Scottish outfit Rangers have entered negotiations with Turkish giants Besiktas to secure the return of winger Vaclav Cerny.

Will Gabriel Jesus leave Arsenal during the transfer window?

According to reporting from Sky Sports, Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has become a target of primary interest for both Everton and Ipswich Town. Further context provided by Spanish news outlet AS indicates that while European clubs including Napoli have monitored the 29-year-old’s situation, Jesus maintains a strict preference to remain in the Premier League.

The Brazilian forward currently has 79 Premier League goals to his name, leaving him just three strikes shy of Roberto Firmino’s record as the highest-scoring Brazilian in English top-flight history. With his starting opportunities under Mikel Arteta becoming limited, domestic suitors Everton and Ipswich Town are positioning themselves to offer the striker an integral first-team role. However, any potential deal presents a balance of structural and financial considerations for Arsenal, who must weigh the risks of strengthening a domestic competitor against the diminishing return on the player’s contract.

Simultaneously, reports from Sky Sports detail that Arsenal scouts are actively monitoring Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi. The Gunners are reportedly weighing up a January offer for the youngster as part of a broader sequence of squad succession planning.

Why is Adam Wharton staying at Crystal Palace despite Manchester City interest?

As reported by Ed Aarons of The Guardian, Crystal Palace have informed Manchester City that central midfielder Adam Wharton is strictly not for sale during the current transfer window. The Premier League champions made a formal inquiry for the 22-year-old England international following significant alterations to their own midfield roster.

Writing for The Independent, journalist Karl Matchett detailed statements from Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage confirming the club’s firm stance during his press conference. Sage addressed the speculation surrounding Wharton directly, stating:

“I think now is not the moment to do that [sell Wharton]. I think he is able to play in another club, in a big club, here or everywhere in Europe. But I think one year with us, with a new dynamic, will be good for him, and we need him. That’s why I think he will stay with us.”

Wharton, who retains three years on his existing contract at Selhurst Park, remains a pivotal element of Palace’s structural plans, particularly following the departure of central defender Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea.

Are Rangers set to complete a deal for Besiktas winger Vaclav Cerny?

As reported by Andy Newport of the Daily Record, Rangers have opened preliminary discussions with Besiktas regarding a potential return for Czech Republic international winger Vaclav Cerny. The 28-year-old attacker previously enjoyed a prolific spell on loan at Ibrox from Wolfsburg before securing a permanent transfer to Turkey.

However, Newport highlighted significant financial roadblocks currently hindering the progress of the transaction. Besiktas are understood to be holding out for an £8 million transfer fee, while Cerny’s current contract in Turkey yields an annual salary of approximately £2 million (around £40,000 per week). While Cerny is reportedly open to a return to Glasgow, Rangers officials fear being priced out of the move unless the Turkish club lowers its valuation and the player agrees to accept a structural pay cut.

Background of these transfer developments

The converging transfer headlines reflect distinct strategic phases for the clubs involved:

• Arsenal: The Gunners have been actively reshaping their forward department under Mikel Arteta. Having managed player workloads and tactical rotations over consecutive title-challenging campaigns, the coaching staff is prioritizing younger profiles with high tactical agility, such as Eli Junior Kroupi, while resolving the future of senior squad members like Gabriel Jesus.
• Crystal Palace: Following the arrival of manager Pierre Sage, the Eagles have faced major roster turnover. Having already sanctioned the sale of key defender Maxence Lacroix, Palace management is determined to block further departures of core talent to maintain competitive stability in the Premier League.
• Rangers: Having missed out on primary transfer targets earlier in the window—including a aborted £7 million deal for PSV’s Couhaib Driouech due to medical concerns—Rangers are actively seeking proven attacking quality to reinforce their wide positions ahead of their domestic and European campaigns.

Predictions: How will these developments impact the clubs and fans?

These potential transfers and strategic refusals carry direct operational consequences for the involved clubs and their broader fanbases:

• For Arsenal andSuitor Clubs: If Gabriel Jesus completes a transition to either Everton or Ipswich Town, it provides the receiving club with immediate, proven top-flight goalscoring authority, significantly boosting their chances of Premier League survival or mid-table stability. For Arsenal, offloading a high-earning squad player creates the necessary financial and registration space to integrate high-potential talent like Kroupi.
• For Crystal Palace and Manchester City: Retaining Adam Wharton provides Crystal Palace supporters with stability during a managerial transition under Pierre Sage. It ensures that Palace retain an elite technical distributor in central midfield. Conversely, Manchester City will be forced to pivot to alternative market targets to address their midfield depth before the deadline closes.
• For Rangers: Navigating the negotiations for Vaclav Cerny will dictate Rangers’ wide attacking threat for the remainder of the season. Successfully securing the Czech international would re-energize the Ibrox fanbase with a proven performer, whereas failing to bridge the financial gap could force the club into riskier, unproven market alternatives late in the window.