Arsenal's pursuit of Vinicius Junior looks as if it's hit a bump in the road, with the Real Madrid star reportedly close to extending at the Bernabeu. It would've been an almighty coup for the Gunners, but it would've also come at a considerable cost.
Despite having a year left on his contract, there's an expectation that Vini Jr moving to Arsenal would've forced the north Londoners to break the Premier League transfer record. However, should the move break down as expected, Arsenal and Mikel Arteta will have the best part of £150million to work with in the transfer window.
Three targets for Arsenal
As such, Express Sport have picked out three targets Arsenal should be going after instead…
It's not as much of a headturner as Vini Jr, but Bradley Barcola would still be a marquee signing for Arsenal. It's suggested the Frenchman could be on the move this summer, having failed to land a permanent position in the PSG forward line. Liverpool are also believed to be courting the winger, who can play on either side of the attack. However, PSG are holding firm on their valuation, and any move would likely break the £100m barrier.
Defensive reinforcement
Having built their title charge on a strong defence, Arsenal's plans for the 2026/27 campaign were rocked when news broke that William Saliba will be out for a considerable amount of time with a back injury. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal look to strengthen that position in the window, but if they do, there are few better options available than Ezri Konsa. A stalwart in the England side, Konsa boasts plenty of experience and would be a useful addition to the Arsenal squad.
Midfield upgrade
And finally, how about taking what already looks like the best midfield in world football and making it even better? That's what the addition of Alex Scott would look like, with Arsenal having recently agreed a deal for fellow newbie, Bruno Guimaraes. Scott enjoyed a stellar season with Bournemouth last term, and even scored against Arteta's side during a match at the Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea and Manchester United have been linked, but there are few clubs with as much pulling power in European football right now as Arsenal. Adding this trio of players to their squad would surely put Arsenal on the right path for retaining their Premier League crown.
