Arsenal’s frustrating summer transfer window looks set to continue, with Vinicius Junior likely to remain at Real Madrid
Fresh from winning their first Premier League title in 22 years and making it all the way to the Champions League final, Arsenal fans expected to see their club bulldoze their way into the transfer window with confidence this summer. That simply hasn’t been the case, with only £34m winger Christos Tzolis - a player not expected to be a regular starter - ariving thus far.
After weeks of what looked to be indecision and dithering over how to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, the Gunners suffered the indignity of seeing their London rivals Chelsea swoop in from nowhere, snatching the England international for a whopping £117m. On top of that, their centre-back target John Stones opted to join Serie A side Inter instead.
Then came a great wave of optimism, when Arsenal were linked with a sensational move for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. The Brazil international has just a year left on his contract, and the imminent arrival of RB Leipzig wonderkid Yan Diomande led some to suggest Vinicius would be deemed surplus to requirements and sold to help fund his replacement.
Many (including us, for what it’s worth) doubted that Vinicius to Arsenal was actually ever an option. When high profile footballers are nearing the end of their contracts or in negotiations over a renewal, it’s not uncommon to see a glut of stories linking them with other clubs. It feels like in this case, the Gunners may well have been used as a pawn to gain the player’s entourage leverage in negotiations, with the narrative now switching to the player likely extending his stay with Real.
Whether Arsenal were actually interested in signing Vinicius - and whether he actually wanted to join - will likely remain unknown, but one thing is for sure: Mikel Arteta needs to get his new first-choice left winger signing sorted. We’ve taken a look at some of the top class options the north London club could pursue, as the countdown to the 2026/27 Premier League season continues at pace.
The top class wingers Arsenal could sign instead of Vinicius Junior: Nusa to Mbaye
AC Milan and USA star Christian Pulisic could still have a point to prove in the Premier Leagueplaceholder image
AC Milan and USA star Christian Pulisic could still have a point to prove in the Premier League | Getty Images
Antonio Nusa - RB Leipzig: The 21-year-old looked the real deal at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, dazzling onlookers with his lightning-fast dribbling and direct attacking play during Norway’s run to the quarter-finals. He’s been tipped as a serious contender to join the Gunners this summer, after making a real name for himself in the Bundesliga.
He’s still not the finished article, however, and throwing him straight into the Premier League as a starting left winger would be a risk. That said, he could bring the shot of adrenaline that the Gunners were missing last season, and would surely help to end their concerning overreliance on goals scored from set-pieces.
Christian Pulisic - AC Milan: Few remember when Pulisic suddenly turned into Lionel Messi during the eerie, pandemic era of Premier League football, as he ran riot in the empty stadiums with Chelsea. The renaissance was cut short against Arsenal, in fact, when he tore his hamstring soon after scoring the opening goal in the Blues’ 2-1 FA Cup final loss to the Gunners.
Now at AC Milan, the USA talisman has reignited his career, and the Gunners are believed to be keeping a close eye on the dynamic winger, who could be sold if a bid of around £55m is offered this summer. At 27-years-old, he’s very much in his prime, but that sketchy injury record would make his acquisition somewhat of a gamble.
Ibrahim Mbaye - Paris Saint-Germain: While naturally a right winger, the Senegalese sensation is more than capable of playing on the left, and has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium for some time. However, aged just 18, he would surely be more of an investment for the future rather than a player capable of slotting straight in as a regular starter.
The top class wingers Arsenal could sign instead of Vinicius Junior: Rashford to Williams
Could Arsenal hijack Liverpool's move for PSG star Bradley Barcola?placeholder image
Could Arsenal hijack Liverpool's move for PSG star Bradley Barcola? | Getty Images
Marcus Rashford - Manchester United: Arsenal have been touted as a potential destination for the England star for some time, after it became clear that Barcelona won’t be signing him on a permanent deal despite an impressive loan spell with the Catalan giants last season. It remains to be seen whether he has a future at United - if not, Arsenal could make a move.
The 28-year-old’s career stalled during a turbulent period for United, with things ultimately coming to a head following the doomed appointment of Ruben Amorim, which saw Rashford lose his place in the side. Should current United boss Michael Carrick decide he has no place for the forward either, his signing could be an ideal opportunistic move for the Gunners.
Bradley Barcola - Paris Saint-Germain: Transfer fees have gone from the obscene to the ridiculous this summer, and PSG have apparently cottoned on to this, whacking Barcola’s asking price up to £145m after seeing how much Real Madrid are set to spend on RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande.
Liverpool look to be the front-runners to sign Barcola, but are unlikely to pay the whopping fee PSG want for a player who isn’t even a first-choice option in the side. With Liverpool stalling, Arsenal have time to nip in and pitch their case to the rising talent, before attempting to whittle down the Parisian club’s exorbitant fee requirements.
Nico Williams - Athletic Bilbao: A long-term Arsenal target, signing Williams would be a considerably more simple operation. The World Cup winner has a release clause believed to be in the region of £77m, which should be a fee within the Gunners’ reach. If the required bid was made, Arsenal would only need to agree terms with the player, with no club to club negotiations required.