After a huge flirtation with The arsenal, Vinicius Jr now has a an improved contract offer from Real Madrid to ponder.
There was always a risk that Vini Jr’s representatives were using Arsenal to try and force Madrid’s hand after more than a year of stalemate over his new contract. Whether the new deal is enough to keep the Brazilian in Spain is still a case of “wait and see”, but the it feels like he is more liekly to sign right now than leave.
So where does that leave Arsenal, having stepped away from Morgan Rogers to chase Vinicius Jr?
Firstly, I must caveat that whilst I would be disappointed to miss out on Vini Jr, I would prefer to be trying to sign the best players in the world than not be in the market for them. We are Premier League champions. Champions League finalists. We need to be aiming to sign ceiling raisers like Vini Jr now.
Since Dennis Bergkamp, we have probably only signed three players who could have been considered amongst the best in the world when they joined – Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Declan Rice.
Go nowhere
It might only be two pre-season friendlies in, but new boy Christos Tzolis looks sharp.
Beyond a few YouTube clips, it is unlikely anyone had watched much of the Greek winger prior to signing. His name only really ringing a bell from when Norwich City signed him as a youngster. Signed to replace Leandro Trossard, Tzolis has shown real quality in his two appearances so far.
Missing out on Vini whilst securing Tzolis could end up as impactful as missing out on Mykhailo Mudryk and signing Trossard. That all worked out well…
Alongside Tzolis we still have Gabriel Martinelli.
Vinicius Jr’s “understudy” for Brazil provides the raw pace that only really Noni Madueke also gives the squad. Still only 25, his contract runs out in a year, but Arsenal do retain an option to extend for a further 12-months.
Having Tzolis and Martinelli means we do not need to rush into the transfer market. If the right player is not available at the right pace, we have that option to stick.
Hijack Bradley Barcola
The PSG winger has been heavily linked to a move to Liverpool for £100m.
Arsenal were reportedly looking at Bradley Barcola this summer, but opted to firstly prioritise Rogers, and then switch to Vinicius Jr. That double snub may make it hard to go in late for Barcola, with the Frenchman knowing that he was basically our 3rd choice. But money talks in football.
Personally I do not want to see us splash £100m on Barcola. He is basically a French Martinelli who relies on running into space behind, and has fairly average shooting and crossing. It would feel a bit “Emperors new clothes” if we cashed in on Martinelli and signed Barcola.
Go young
If the decision is still to sell Martinelli this summer, the door may still be open for a couple of youngsters.
The first name to spring to mind is Kenan Yildiz. I have long been a fan of the Juventus player and he looks ready to break out as the next global superstar.
Antonio Nusa is another youngster we have been linked with. Another bright prospect but maybe a bit too raw for us right now. In a bit of an oddity, in 2024 Club Brugge sold Nusa to RB Leipzig. His replacement was some Greek fella from Norwich City.
Another name that has popped up a couple of times this summer is Mika Godts. Like Nusa, he looks too raw. It is also likely that he will join PSG to replace Barcola.
Other than Yildiz, I think many of the youngsters we have been linked to are just to raw, and not on the level of Martinelli. We would be better off keeping our pockets filled and monitor them for a further year to see who may break out. Even if that costs us more.
Back to Julian Alvarez
I was never sold by the Julian Alvarez deal. I think he is overrated.
Like Gabriel Jesus, his best performances in the Premier League came as cameos off the bench. He is not really a striker, not really a midfielder, not really a number 10. It would be huge money for a player who we would not really have the space for.
Mikel Arteta seems to like him though….
A Real Madrid loan?
If Vinicius Jr stays and Yan Diomande signs, Real Madrid will have arguably the best front 3 in world football alongside Kylian Mbappe. But their back-up players might be looking, wondering where they may get their opportunity.
We were linked heavily with Rodrgyo a year ago. Could there be a loan with an option to buy opportunity here? Brahim Diaz is another who may consider his future lies elsewhere. and then you have Endrick and Franco Mastantuono.
Not too long ago, the teenage pair were considered the future of Real Madrid. But their pathway has just become a little more complicated due to Diomande’s impending signing. And the Ivorian is still teenager himself.
If we have not upset Real Madrid with our pursuit of Vinicius Jr, could we go back to them and secure one of their other forwards on loan for the season? One to watch maybe.
What do you think Arsenal should do if Vinicius Jr stays at Real Madrid? Leave us a comment
Keenos