Arsenal remain realistic over their chances of signing Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid. The Brazil international has 12 months remaining on his contract, and with negotiations over an extension dragging, the Premier League champions are prepared to test the water with an audacious move.
Frustrating start to transfer window
After missing out on Morgan Rogers to Chelsea and with Julian Alvarez making clear his priority remains swapping Atletico Madrid for Barcelona, the Gunners have endured a frustrating start to the transfer window. Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge as a direct replacement for Leandro Trossard, who has joined Besiktas, but the addition of a marquee name remains frustratingly out of reach.
Arsenal ultimately pulled out of the race to sign Rogers having baulked at the £117 million fee Chelsea were prepared to pay Aston Villa, but the north London club are prepared to push the boat out for a player of Vinicius' standing.
Arteta's admiration
According to the BBC, Arteta is 'absolutely smitten' with the idea of signing the 26-year-old who is potentially at the peak of his powers. Arteta shed his squad of the superstars that dominated the Arsenal dressing room during the early part of his tenure in Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. But the Arsenal boss, who spent much of his playing career alongside world class, often maverick, attacking talents in Robin van Persie and Alexis Sanchez, accepts a touch of star quality could take his team to the next level.
Arsenal narrowly failed to add a maiden Champions League crown to their Premier League title back in May and, after that painful loss to PSG on penalties, Arteta confessed that an overreliance on his world-class defence may not be sustainable long-term.
Obstacles to the deal
Of course, in order to sign Vinicius, Arsenal would have to convince a player who is minded to remain in the Spanish capital and who his new manager, Jose Mourinho, wants to keep that a move would fulfil his professional objectives and financial demands. Vinicius currently earns £450,000 a week at Real, but Arsenal are confident they have the wherewithal to offer a package that would be attractive to the Brazil international.
Shattering their current wage structure would help Arsenal land one of world football's most recognisable figures, but Troy Deeney believes the presence of Vinicius would backfire and impact negatively on several members of Arteta's squad.
'If it did happen, it would be amazing for the Premier League to have a superstar on that level in terms of global appeal,' Deeney said on talkSPORT Breakfast. 'I don't like it. I don't think it suits the way Arsenal play. I don't think his personality suits [Mikel] Arteta.
'I think he's a massive diva in terms of what he wants and what he needs. I don't think he would buy into the collective, and that would be something new for Arteta to have to deal with, because he's all about the group.
'You'd have Saka on one side, who's done everything right, then you bring in this guy and go, “Everyone, give him the ball.” And you have to keep giving him the ball. I don't like it. I don't think it helps Arsenal, I really don't.'
