Arsenal explore move for Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior

Arsenal explore move for Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior

Arsenal are exploring a potential transfer for Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, according to reporting from The Athletic. The Gunners have reportedly received approval from the club's hierarchy to pursue the Brazil international, though club-to-club negotiations have not yet commenced.

To lure the star to the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal are planning to improve upon the player's current contract of £400,000 per week, The Telegraph reports. The club has discussed the necessary figures and considers them to be no barrier to the deal.

But the move faces significant opposition within the Spanish capital. The Telegraph claims that Real Madrid's new head coach, Jose Mourinho, would oppose the departure. Mourinho has reportedly expressed a desire to retain Vinicius, alongside Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham, for the upcoming season.

The financial stakes are high. According to SPORT, Real Madrid will only enter negotiations to sell Vinicius Junior if they receive an offer worth at least £136million. This figure is described as non-negotiable by club president Florentino Perez, although the valuation could include add-ons to lower the initial outlay this summer.

The timing is critical as Vinicius enters the final 12 months of his contract. While Madrid has set a high valuation to deter opportunistic bids, the club may be open to offers if contract renewal talks do not progress before the start of August. According to AS, the player's own priority is to renew his deal. He is reportedly seeking an annual salary of £17million, which is approximately £4million more than his current earnings. Negotiations for a new contract are expected to resume next week when the Brazilian returns from vacation.

Real Madrid may be preparing for the possibility of a sale by targeting a replacement. The Spanish side is currently the frontrunner to sign Ivory Coast international Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig. While Sky Germany disputes claims that the move is a "done deal" due to a lack of an agreed transfer fee, TalkSPORT reports that Madrid has reached an agreement in principle for a five-year deal with the player. This follows a rejected £85million bid made last week.

Arsenal's pursuit of attacking talent is not limited to Vinicius Junior. The club is also credited with an interest in Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola. PSG is seeking at least £140million for the France international, as reported by the BBC, while other sources suggest Barcola and Liverpool—who have held preliminary talks—would prefer a deal below the £144million valuation. Barcola has reportedly turned down a final extension offer from PSG and is exploring his options.

In midfield, Arsenal is preparing a new approach for Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes. According to Fabrizio Romano, the club will contact Newcastle next week to improve upon a previous £70million proposal. A prior verbal offer of £45m was immediately rejected by the Magpies. Arsenal has already agreed personal terms with the Brazilian, whom Mikel Arteta reportedly views as a perfect partner for Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice.

If a deal for Guimaraes fails, TeamTalk claims Arsenal will attempt to sign Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. This comes despite Bournemouth stating that Scott is not for sale, and follows a previous £64m bid for the playmaker from Chelsea.

While pursuing senior stars, Arsenal continues to secure young talent. The club has confirmed that Scotland under-19 international Callan Hamill has signed his first professional contract. Additionally, Fabrizio Romano reports that Arsenal has agreed to sign 16-year-old Wales under-19 international Axel Donczew from Cardiff City, who has already completed a medical.