Arsenal are reportedly Vinicius Junior’s most likely destination if he leaves Real Madrid, but the winger’s situation at his current club remains complex.
David Ornstein and James McNicholas broke the news on Saturday that Arsenal are exploring a move to sign Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior this summer, and further details of the Gunners’ pursuit have since emerged in other media outlets.
James Olley and Rodra report for ESPN that their sources inform them Arsenal are the only possible destination for Vinicius if he decides to leave Real Madrid this summer. The Gunners are definitely keen and exploring the financial conditions of a deal.
The ESPN report adds that Real Madrid’s interest in Yan Diomande should be seen as related. That’s not surprising, given he would represent a big-money left-wing addition to balance a potential big-money left-wing sale.
Jorge Picon reports that Vinicius doesn’t actually want to leave Real Madrid this summer, and he’d prefer to renew his contract, but it’s not that simple.
Real Madrid have no intention to improve their contract offer, and they’ve made it clear to his camp that they’re open to selling if he won’t accept. Some at the club reportedly believe there is no longer any way to avoid the player running down his deal.
If Real Madrid do sell, it will be an expensive deal. Xavier Ortuno reports for SPORT that Florentino Perez won’t consider bids of less than €160m (£136.6m) after including add-ons.
Ortuno adds that Real Madrid plan to meet with Vinicius next week, and if they can’t finalise a renewal, they might then be open to offers.
Though a fee of almost £140m would obviously be a huge deal and easily the biggest in Arsenal’s history, that’s also hardly surprising. Vinicius is arguably the best winger in the world, and he’s about to enter his peak years.
The 26-year-old is coming off the back of a season in which he racked up 36 goal contributions for his club, before scoring four goals and assisting one in five games at the World Cup.
If you want to sign one of the best players in the world in his position at peak age from one of the biggest clubs in football, you’re going to have to pay up.
The question is whether Arsenal are willing to do so, and whether the player himself will agree to it.
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