Arsenal are hoping to sign Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, but that has not stopped them from working on another transfer
Morristown, United States - June 18: Vinicius Junior of Brazil laughs during the training and press conference of Brazil one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Brazil and Haiti at Columbia Park Training Facility on June 18, 2026 in Morristown, United States. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
Morristown, United States - June 18: Vinicius Junior of Brazil laughs during the training and press conference of Brazil one day ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group C match between Brazil and Haiti at Columbia Park Training Facility on June 18, 2026 in Morristown, United States. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
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Arsenal want to sign Vinicius Junior(Image: DeFodi Images, DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
Arsenal are working to sign Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid but remain in the market for Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez. The Gunners are said to remain interested in the Argentina star despite being ready to make a mega-money move for his La Liga rival.
Atleti ace Alvarez has long been linked to the Gunners, who were reportedly willing to offer Viktor Gyokeres in a player-plus-cash arrangement. Diego Simeone's side have been reluctant to sell their star, with the forward particularly interested in a move to Barcelona.
Nevertheless, the prospect of an incredible summer double deal seeing Arsenal pluck Vinicius and Alvarez from the Spanish capital appears to be on the cards. Signing either would be a significant statement from the north London side ahead of their Premier League title defence.
According to The Independent, Arsenal continue to pursue a deal for Alvarez. It has also been suggested Arsenal are confident about their chances of securing Vinicius.
Meanwhile, a transfer to bring Bruno Guimaraes to Arsenal from Newcastle seems to be drawing closer, with his future potentially settled within the coming week.
The arrival of those players would see Mikel Arteta significantly improve his depth at the Emirates. The Spaniard would be able to choose a front three of Vinicius, Alvarez, Bukayo Saka, with the likes of Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and new signing Christos Tzolis available for rotation.
Arteta recently made it crystal clear he needed to strengthen his squad with additional elite players if they were to continue challenging across four competitions.
He said: "From ownership to the board, the sporting director and myself, we know that we want to take this club to a different level. That is going to require a better squad, better individual.
"We have identified where we have opportunities to grow and to improve and to evolve our game and what is going to be needed to achieve that. Hopefully, very soon, we can start to put things in a very concrete way."
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JULY 11: Julian Alvarez #9 of Argentina celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Quarter Final match between Argentina and Switzerland at Kansas City Stadium on July 11, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Arsenal are still working on a move for Julian Alvarez(Image: Carl Recine, Getty Images)
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Arteta continued: "This has to be the start and this has to be the standard. Excellence has to be our standard and this has to drive to attack the future.
"The way we behave daily with more and more determination and ambition because we've shown that we've got it. Now we have to show that we belong to this level. We want to increase and take this football club to a different dimension.
"My ambition is that daily we nail the standards and the requirements to be better the following day. That is the thing that we have to control, and maintain that ambition, that discipline, that commitment and that positive energy through 11 months. That is the responsibility that we all have. If we all achieve that, we are going to be in a really strong position in May."
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