The Arsenal dressing room have delivered their thoughts on Vinicius Junior's potential move to Arsenal with talks ongoing about the Brazilian joining Mikel Arteta's side
Vinicius Junior of Brazil during the 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 match between Brazil and Norway at Metlife Stadium on July 5, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States
Vinicius Jr continues to be linked with a move to Arsenal(Image: Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
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Arsenal's players consider Vinicius Junior's move to the Emirates Stadium as a 'done deal', it has been claimed.
The Gunners want to sign Brazil international Vinicius in a blockbuster transfer this summer. Vinicius, 26, has less than 12 months left on his current contract at Real Madrid and his future is uncertain.
Reports on Wednesday morning stated that Vinicius has turned down Real's latest offer of around £362,000 per week until 2031, and Arsenal are leading the race to sign him should he decide not to extend his deal.
But now, according to Spanish outlet AS, the Arsenal dressing room think Vinicius' move to north London is a 'done deal' and are confident he is going to join the Gunners before the end of the transfer window.
It's added that there is a 'strong desire' from Arsenal to finalise the agreement for Vinicius with his representatives meeting Real now for face-to-face talks around his future and the contract renewal.
Vinicius Jr has been linked with a move to Arsenal
Vinicius Jr has been linked with a move to Arsenal (Image: Getty Images)
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Real's latest and final 'take or leave it' £18.8million per-season contract was rejected by Vinicius and the club are not prepared to meet his current financial demands, which is around the £25.7m per-season mark.
Los Blancos' management are aware that Arsenal's interest is 'genuine' and 'willing to negotiate', but they first want to know whether Vinicius is keen to renew his contract or prepared to seek a new adventure.
Should Vinicius not sign a new contract, Real are set to allow the Brazilian to move on so he doesn't leave on a free transfer next summer. Despite his deal running out in June 2027, Real are still demanding £128.5m for his services.
That would be a club record deal for Arsenal if they get it across the line, eclipsing the £100m the Gunners splashed out to sign Declan Rice from West Ham in 2023. When it comes to the most expensive Premier League transfers ever, it would top Alexander Isak's mammoth £125m move from Newcastle United to Liverpool last summer.
Arsenal head coach Arteta is thought to have held talks with Vinicius around a move to the Emirates and explained how the player would fit in if he decides to sign. Vinicius would be Arsenal's starting left winger pushing Gabriel Martinelli down and Christos Tzolis as third-choice following Leandro Trossard's exit.
Although a deal isn't close yet, former Real forward and sporting director Pedja Mijatovic has expressed his concern about Vinicius' future in Madrid and believes Arsenal are prepared to 'break the bank' to sign him.
"Now we know what Madrid is offering him , and Vinicius has rejected it. At this point in the summer, with one year left on his contract, this whole situation clearly tells me that Vinicius isn't planning to renew," ex-Serbia and Montenegro international Mijatovic told El Larguero.
"He can ask for 30, 35, or 25, it doesn't matter. At this point, it doesn't matter anymore; he's already considering other offers, which he obviously has because he's a fantastic player. Arsenal are very interested in signing him. I have reports from England that Arsenal are planning to break the bank to sign him.
"If he doesn't want to renew, we'll have to make a significant transfer fee. We'll see what happens, but by August, things are still uncertain. If you can't convince him to renew, we'll have to consider getting a lot of money for him."
Despite the speculation around Vinicius' future, he reported back for pre-season as scheduled on Monday. Los Blancos posted on X to confirm that the ex-Flamengo man was present at Hospital Blua Sanitas Valdebebas, a hospital in Madrid, to conduct medical testing alongside new teammate Bernardo Silva and Brahim Diaz.
Soon after, Real Madrid then posted another update, and this time it was Vinicius back on the grass and in first-team training at the club's Valdebebas training ground.