Arsenal want to complete a transfer for Vinicius Junior but it won't come cheap as the Gunners look to take advantage of the star's stand-off with Real Madrid
Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior has a big decision to make on his future(Image: MAURO PIMENTEL / AFP via Getty Images)
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If Arsenal are successful in their bid to sign Vinicius Junior, it will be the club's biggest and most expensive transfer in their history. The Real Madrid star would be a truly blockbuster addition.
The La Liga giants already have a proposal on the table for the Brazilian forward, worth £18.85million per year. That figure still falls some way short of the 26-year-old's demands but he has returned to training.
With just one year remaining on his contract, Vinicius wants a £25.7m salary to extend his stay at the Bernabeu. If no agreement is forthcoming, Real Madrid are open to his sale.
It is claimed that the Gunners could offer the Premier League's highest-ever salary, per SPORT. But Arsenal do hold one advantage in being able to supplement the player's salary with his image rights, a sticking point in negotiations with Real Madrid. as Vinicius wants an improved share to reflect Kylian Mbappe's deal.
football.london understands that Arsenal have agreements regarding image rights with Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice.
So, if Arsenal simply matched Real Madrid's salary offer, where would Vinicius rank among Arsenal's top earners? football.london takes a look.
1. Vinicius Junior £18.85m (per year)
The Brazilian would land top of the pile in a move that would reflect Mikel Arteta's assertion that he would be central to Arsenal's plans moving forward. The Gunners will want to bring Vinicius in for less than Real Madrid's £145.6m demands, however.
Vinicius Jr in training with his Real Madrid teammates
Vinicius Jr in training with his Real Madrid teammates(Image: Getty Images)
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2. Bukayo Saka £15m
Arsenal's talisman signed a bumper new contract in February. It is reported he rakes in the region of £300,000 per week as one of the division's best-paid players.
3. Kai Havertz £14.56m
The Germany international signed from Chelsea three years ago on a 'long-term deal' and has proven an important figure for Mikel Arteta.
4. Gabriel Jesus £13.78m
The former Manchester City star became Arsenal's highest-paid player upon his arrival in 2022. With a year remaining on his contract and outside of the Gunners' best XI, they would probably be happier to offload his wages.
5. William Saliba £13m
William Saliba has established himself as a key defender at Arsenal and one of the best in the world, ensuring Arsenal tied him down to a new deal last September. In doing so, they ensured he was one of the club's best-paid stars.
=6. Martin Odegaard £12.48m
The Gunners' captain is under contract until 2028 and remains a key player in north London.
=6. Declan Rice £12.48m
The England midfielder is tied down until 2029 after signing for £100m from West Ham. He retains an agreement to receive a share of his image rights.
8. Viktor Gyokeres £10.4m
The Swedish forward signed a five-year deal after a tumultuous summer transfer saga last summer.
=9. Gabriel Martinelli £9.36m
The Brazilian winger last signed a contract extension in 2023, with his current deal set to run out in less than 12 months. There is an option to extend the star's deal for a further year, as the Gunners wait for the right offer to move him on.
=9 Eberechi Eze £9.36m
Arsenal tied Eberechi Eze to a four-year contract, with the option to extend by a further year, when securing his signature last summer.