Arsenal are still working hard to sign the left-sided forward they have prioritised all summer
Real Madrid's Brazilian forward #07 Vinicius Junior celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Real Sociedad at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on February 14, 2026.
Vinicius Junior is admired at Arsenal(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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It is an exciting time to be an Arsenal fan, with the Gunners linked with several big-name players. A slow start to the summer saw deals confirmed for Piero Hincapie and back-up goalkeeper Illan Meslier.
That was followed by the £34million signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge earlier this month. Yet, despite the Greece international’s promise, he is widely seen as a squad option and not the marquee left winger the Gunners hierarchy had promised this summer.
However, the transfer window is now seemingly kicking into life at the Emirates Stadium, as manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta accelerate their pursuit of key targets, most notably Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.
In terms of signing a superstar winger, Arsenal appear to be keen to bounce back from their disappointment of missing out on Morgan Rogers' move to Chelsea in emphatic fashion. Vinicius Junior emerged as a potential shock signing on Saturday, with all decision-makers at Arsenal reportedly all on-board with bringing him to N5.
Green light on Vinicius Jr deal
Arsenal are reportedly willing to break their wage structure in order to land Vinicius this summer. football.london reports that the club are willing to go all in to secure the Real Madrid sensation, not only in terms of a transfer fee, but by also offering him a mammoth salary.
The Brazilian has just one year left on his Los Blancos deal but is no closer to signing an extension at the Bernabeu. And Arsenal can offer him a substantial pay package worth £500,000-per-week, in addition to what some reports are labelling his primary focus, to ‘feel loved’ by whichever club he plays for next season.
Arsenal have the financial means to meet the 26-year-old’s eye-watering wages, which would make him by far the club’s top earner, with Bukayo Saka currently on just over £300,000-per-week.
Such a deal would expand Arsenal’s wage structure considerably and impact future talks with other high-profile stars such as Declan Rice, with whom the club remain in discussions over an extension. But the fact it is being considered is testament to how highly Arteta and Gunners chiefs rate Vinicius.
Arsenal’s £103m decision
Bradley Barcola of PSG runs with the ball during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Nantes at Parc des Princes on April 22, 2026 in Paris, France.
Arsenal look set to drop out of the race for Barcola(Image: Getty Images)
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Arsenal are said to be prepared to step aside in the race for PSG winger Bradley Barcola. Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that Barcola will not sign a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain and is exploring a move this summer.
The France international has been a target for Arsenal all summer, given Arteta has prioritised signing a left winger. Yet, Premier League rivals Liverpool are considered favourites to sign Barcola, who is their preferred signing.
L’Equipe now reports that Arsenal, who do not hold as strong of an interest in the 23-year-old as Liverpool, are willing to give up their chase for the skilful dribbler. The main reason for that is Arsenal are only willing to pay up to €90million (£77m) for his services, while the European champions want €120m (£103m).
That's deemed too much by the north Londoners. Reports claim Liverpool have already agreed personal terms and are now willing to test the waters by offering PSG around £85m.