Arsenal Transfer Roundup: Gunners hopeful of Vinicius Jr coup
Credit: NurPhoto/ GettyImages
As Arsenal began their pre-season with a 4-1 victory over Girona, the club are working behind the scenes to improve upon the squad which secured Premier League silverware last season.
Two deals in particular have begun to excite fans. Bruno Guimaraes looks likely to further amplify Newcastle's woes as rumours of him joining the Gunners intensify.
And, most intriguingly, the potential addition of Vinicius Junior to the Gunners' ranks has left fans dreaming.
The Arsenal team at VAVEL have summed up the latest rumours in this week's transfer roundup.
Vinicius Junior
In the last few weeks, a deal for Vinicius Jr to join Arsenal has gone from impossible to showing signs of potential. This has happened due to the Brazilian's longstanding contract feud with Real Madrid.
According to David Ornstein, Vinicius is attracted by a potential move to the Emirates Stadium, but will enter crucial talks in Madrid as Los Blancos and the 26-year-old try to thrash out a contract renewal.
In the eventuality that the Brazilian does join the Gunners, Arsenal would be adding a world-class attacker to their starting lineup. Vinicius has scored 128 goals for Madrid, including one in their UEFA Champions League final victory over Borussia Dortmund in 2024.
There is hope that signing a player of this calibre would catapult Arsenal to a new level, with their attacking play the subject of criticism last season, despite securing their first Premier League title in over two decades.
If Arsenal are to get this over the line, then they must cough up their highest salary for a player. A sum that will go far beyond the wages paid to the likes of Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who were rumoured to be earning at least £350,000 per week.
Words by Harry Cooper-Smith
Bruno Guimarães
NurPhoto/ GettyImages
NurPhoto/ GettyImages
It seems this saga is finally coming to a conclusion, with Arsenal closing in on a deal to sign Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle United.
Reports from both ESPN Brasil and The Times suggest that the fee will be around £80 million; however, Newcastle sources continue to deny that any bid has been made, or that Arsenal has engaged in any club-to-club talks with Newcastle.
Guimarães is due to meet up with the squad at their warm weather training camp in La Manga, Spain on Sunday (August 2nd); however, it remains to be seen whether that actually happens or not.
The Times also reported late Saturday evening that Guimarães was preparing to have a medical with the defending Premier League champions.
As of Sunday afternoon, no deal has been officially agreed between Newcastle and Arsenal for Bruno Guimarães; however, the likely outcome looks to be that the Brazilian will be heading to North London, as a key part of the Gunners' bid to retain the title for the first time in 91 years.
Words by Theo Tarling
Bradley Barcola
David Ramos/ GettyImages
David Ramos/ GettyImages
Bradley Barcola remains a possible option for Arsenal to improve their attacking roster.
The French forward, who has two years left on his contract at Paris Saint-Germain, seems reluctant to sign a new deal with the club, and The Guardian are suggesting that he might move to England.
The top two teams on the radar of the 23-year-old are Liverpool and the Gunners. Mikel Arteta and the board appear to be under pressure to recruit a top-tier player for the left-wing position, especially after Leandro Trossard decided to end his time at the Emirates Stadium with a switch to Besiktas.
Barcola brings an ability to find separation in 1 v 1 duels and lightning speed to break backlines, having featured for France in the World Cup on the way to a 4th-placed finish this summer. But the question remains whether Arsenal feel he is worth the reported £145 million required to sign him.
Words by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere
Jacobo Ramon
Claudio Villa/ GettyImages
Claudio Villa/ GettyImages
As mentioned in last week's transfer roundup, Arsenal are in the market for a central defender.
John Stones was high on the list but has since joined Serie A champions Inter Milan. Ezri Konsa is also someone who the Gunners hold an interest in; however, Aston Villa's £60m asking price has cooled their desire significantly.
Another name mentioned by The Athletic's Gunner Blog was Jacobo Ramon. The 21-year-old, now at Como, is a graduate of Real Madrid Castilla and has impressed in Italy.
Interestingly, Arsenal fans may get a glimpse of Ramon and his manager, the ever-popular Cesc Fabregas, as Como travel to the Emirates Stadium on August 12 for a pre-season friendly.
However, Ramon is expected to command a significant fee as Como do not want to sell due to their upcoming exploits in the UEFA Champions League.
If Arsenal are to prise the Spaniard away from their former player, then it wouldn't come on the cheap. Perhaps that may be further impacted by Mikel Arteta's ambitions to sign both Bruno Guimaraes and Vinicius Junior.
Words by Harry Cooper-Smith
Ethan Nwaneri
Eric Alonso/ GettyImages
Eric Alonso/ GettyImages
Arsenal's Hale End prodigy Ethan Nwaneri is attracting significant interest for a move this summer.
The Gunners' teenage talent first came into the spotlight in September 2022 when he became the youngest player in Premier League history at just 15 years and 181 days old.
Since then, Arsenal's academy graduate has made 51 appearances for the Gunners before enduring a difficult loan spell with Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille last season, where he struggled to secure regular starts.
Although Nwaneri is now back training with the Gunners at their pre-season camp in Girona, cashing in on homegrown talent may prove pivotal in helping Mikel Arteta get new signings over the line.
According to football transfer journalist Matteo Moretto, there is fierce competition for the 2007-born attacking midfielder. AC Milan, Leipzig, Everton and Fulham have all shown interest in Nwaneri.
Any decision over Nwaneri's future is likely to depend on Arsenal's business throughout the rest of the transfer window. The club will have to weigh up the financial benefits of a sale against the potential of one of Hale End's brightest graduates.
Words by Gemma Ramsay-Barrett