Arsenal could be about to go all out with one of the biggest signings in Premier League history following reports that they're exploring a deal for Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr.
It's rumours, it's hopes and dreams, it's what fans live for while there's no football on.
Signing one of Real Madrid's stars would be a huge deal for Arsenal and the Premier League, and even the intent to do so is a huge statement. Rarely have we seen players of that calibre join the league at the prime of their career, and it’s a huge testimony to the position that Arsenal have put themselves in over recent years.
On the pitch, it’s a move that doesn’t need overthinking. Yes, it would require a shift to accommodate Vinicius Jr defensively, but his pace, dribbling, directness and year after year of goal output is something that fans have been crying out for under the Mikel Arteta era.
It’s a move that could catalyse multiple Premier League trophies and get Arsenal over the line in the Champions League.
Off the pitch, there’s huge financial question marks, both over the fee and his wages. And it likely means breaking the wage structure which has helped put the club back at the top of English football. It’ll have a knock-on impact for others looking to renew, like Declan Rice, and that’s something the club will have to consider carefully.
There’s a chance it’s all agent talk as Vinicius Jr agrees a new deal at Real Madrid and there’s a chance Arsenal don’t have the financial capacity to make it work either way. But the public interest alone is a big signal of intent. It’s the type of move the club promised when they moved to the Emirates Stadium.
It’s always a risk getting overly tied to a rumour, and we’ve seen countless fall through over the years, so for now it’s just a waiting game alongside other targets such as Bruno Guimaraes.
Amid the excitement of the rumour mill, the Gunners beat MK Dons 3-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly on Saturday in the first match of their pre-season, with new signing Christos Tzolis assisting the opener for Reiss Nelson.
Preparations ramp up with a short trip to Spain to face second-tier side Girona on Saturday evening. More minutes in the legs and more faces returning to the squad as we eagerly await a major transfer breakthrough.