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Arsenal transfer news## Arsenal now possess the power to chase the biggest stars in world football and with every year that goes by, their potential as a global force gets stronger and stronger
17:02, 29 Jul 2026
Just over a year ago, speculation surfaced indicating that Arsenal were considering a swoop for Genk wonderkid Konstantinos Karetsas.
Now the Greek starlet is poised to move to Borussia Dortmund in a £27.4million transfer.
It feels a long time ago now but what has happened over the past 13 months underlines just how far the Gunners have come, both in terms of performance and recruitment.
At the time, they were considering signing an understudy for Bukayo Saka. Somebody who could provide cover and competition for the England international, while learning from the efficient wide man.
They eventually turned to Noni Madueke but now, on the back of Premier League title glory, they are eyeing the signing of Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior.
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Karetsas would have been an intriguing acquisition. His potential is clear but now Arsenal's attack will only be improved by premium quality.
Christos Tzolis may prove a smart signing but his 51 goal contributions last season speaks volumes of his firepower.
Now Arsenal are going for broke and are willing to invest a huge sum, both in terms of a transfer fee and wages, on Vini - if he is unable to agree a new contract.
That in itself highlights the drastic shift in ambition since Arsenal were shopping around for a player like Karetsas. They may not get Vinicius but collectively, his arrival is not beyond the realms of possibility.
One year ago, they would have barely had a puncher's chance of landing the Brazilian but having now won the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final, they have the power to make a credible pitch.
Despite the fee, Madueke was still a slightly underwhelming signing but now Arsenal want to prove they can attract players of the highest quality.
We are talking about one of the best attackers in all of world football and the fact the Gunners are even in the conversation shows just how far they've come.
It's a far cry from the early days under Edu when Arsenal would have to wiggle their finances around to afford players like Albert Sambi Lokonga.
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Now investing in young prospects is more of a luxury, that they can afford, as opposed to a necessity as it was in those days because the Gunners were not armed with big cash.
Slowly but surely, the picture has changed and even since last summer, they've unearthed Max Dowman, have Ethan Nwaneri as a spare part and there's a sense there is scope to make a big exciting acquisition in attack to complement what they already have.
Ryan Taylor
Ryan Taylor is a London-based Football Reporter who has worked across Reach's National titles since 2018. After graduating from the University of Brighton with a Sports Journalism degree, he previously climbed the ranks of the Daily Express, where he also covered boxing, before joining the Sunday Mirror as a Football Reporter in 2023. Ryan has developed a strong track record for breaking news on the London football beat.
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