Arsenal now view Vinicius Jr as their number one transfer target.
Mikel Arteta is smitten at the prospect of bringing the Brazilian superstar to the Emirates.
The champions of England are prepared to make him their highest-paid player by some distance.
No formal approach has been made yet, but Arsenal are confident they can capitalise if Vinicius can’t agree a new deal at the Bernabeu.
Drop your instant reaction to Arsenal exploring a move to sign Vinicius Jr from Real Madrid
Now, a development at Real Madrid has handed Arsenal a potential boost.
Vinicius Jr is training separately from the Real Madrid squad
According to the Daily Mail, Vinicius will not return to Real Madrid training this week amid his ongoing contract standoff.
He had been expected to report back to Valdebebas by the end of the month, but will stay away until his future is resolved, whether that means a new contract or a transfer.
Talks over a new deal are expected to resume shortly, and Vinicius is thought to be leaning towards extending rather than forcing a move.
What’s the maximum transfer fee and wages you would pay to sign Vinicius Jr for Arsenal?
But Vinicius wants to be paid a salary that matches Kylian Mbappe’s, which Real are unlikely to endorse.
That gap in valuation between his demands and the club’s hasn’t changed, and reliable Real Madrid journalists are beginning to have doubts about Vinicius renewing with how Arsenal are moving.
Why this boosts Arsenal’s chances of signing Vinicius Jr
This could be huge for Arsenal. A player of Vinicius’ standing going on a de facto training strike increases the pressure on Real Madrid to resolve the situation quickly.
Manager Jose Mourinho doesn’t want to lose Vinicius, but the club will prefer to sell this summer than risk losing him for free next year.
Real Madrid are also poised to sign winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig which only adds to the uncertainty surrounding Vinicius’ future at the Bernabeu.
The player himself is going to want to feel settled before the season starts too, so Arsenal are effectively in a waiting game.
Madrid are unlikely to match Vinicius’ demands with those of Mbappe, and if he sticks to his word on that figure, the club will want to sell.
The Gunners will then be in prime position to land the winger, and are prepared to pay up.
This saga could well be over in a couple of weeks, one way or another.
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