Arsenal are reportedly planning three more signings before the summer transfer window closes on September 1. The Athletic reported on Saturday that Vinicius Junior is Mikel Arteta's top target to strengthen the attack.
Sporting director Andrea Berta has so far brought in Piero Hincapie for £34.5million, third-choice goalkeeper Illan Meslier and £34m Christos Tzolis, with Tzolis arriving as Leandro Trossard's replacement.
Three signings lined up
According to The Athletic, an agreement with Vinicius on personal terms is expected if Real Madrid do not match his demands and the forward opts against renewing his contract at the Bernabeu. Whether or not Vinicius signs, Arsenal will still bring in a new winger before the window shuts.
The north London club are also seeking a new midfielder, understood to be Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes, after reportedly agreeing a £77m deal. A central defender is being pursued to cover for injured William Saliba in the coming months.
Vinicius transfer trick repeat
The links with Vinicius emerged suddenly last weekend, but Berta is understood to have been monitoring the 26-year-old winger's contract situation for some time, with the Brazilian entering the final year of his deal.
Arsenal are now considering a similar approach in their pursuit of Barcelona's Ferran Torres, who is also due to become a free agent next summer. Estadio Deportivo claims the Gunners have enquired about the Spain striker, who scored the decisive goal in the World Cup final last month. Barcelona want to extend Torres' contract, which expires in June, but negotiations have yet to produce an agreement, increasing pressure on the Catalan club to cash in rather than risk losing him for nothing. That, as with Vinicius, plays directly into Arsenal's hands, allowing them to offer a lower transfer fee. Torres can play on either wing or through the middle, and his versatility makes this potential signing an alluring one.
