Arsenal have made progress in negotiations that could yet secure the sensational transfer of Vinicius Junior, with the outline of a personal deal agreed.
There is still a considerable way to go for any deal to happen, and the preference of both Real Madrid and the player is to stay at the Bernabeu.
Present realities may yet see Vinicius end up at Arsenal, however, as he only has a year left on his contract. The situation is said to now be entering the decisive period, and it is possible that the 26-year-old’s future is decided this week.
Madrid would like to keep a club legend who has been the match-winner in two Champions League finals, but there is currently a considerable distance in stances on a new deal.
One of the primary issues is the extent of image rights, which Arsenal are willing to be much more flexible on, as well as the type of contract that reflects Vinicius’s status at the club.
The position of his camp is that they want a deal comparable to Kylian Mbappe’s, but Madrid are some way off that.
The Bernabeu hierarchy also have a need to balance transfer business this summer after a very busy window so far, with considerable wages committed to Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate.
Madrid are also expected to complete the signing of Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, who shares an agency with Vinicius, in Roc Nation.
The Spanish club consequently do not want to let Vinicius just go on a free next summer. That also constrains what they can ask for in terms of a fee if they do sell, but that figure would still be substantial.
Arsenal are meanwhile intent on raising the level of their attack, with the budget made available for such a move, and few would be bigger than Vinicius.
Even in this era of unparalleled Premier League super wealth, few genuine global stars have arrived in their prime. While there is still a lot to be sorted before that happens here, the feeling from the top of Arsenal is that the situation is currently heading in a good direction. Vinicius is open to the prospect of going to Arsenal.
The club are continuing to work on other targets, too, with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez a player they are still keen on.
