Arsenal are exploring a shock deal to sign Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid.
According to the Press Association, Arsenal have inquired about the Brazil international, who has one year remaining on his contract at the Bernabeu.
It is believed that a move for Vinicius – who scored 22 times for Real last season and netted four goals for Brazil at the World Cup – is in its very formative stages as manager Mikel Arteta looks to land a marquee signing to build on the club’s first Premier League title in more than two decades.
Vinicius, 26, fits that bill with Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande and Bradley Barcola of Paris Saint-Germain also on their radar.
Arsenal bolstered their attacking options with the £34m signing of Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge earlier this week.
Morgan Rogers had also been identified as a target, but it is believed Arsenal were not prepared to pay more than £80m for the England international, who ultimately joined Chelsea in a £117m deal – a British record fee.
Vinicius’ future at Real is uncertain following Jose Mourinho’s return and the club could look to cash in on the player, rather than risk losing him for nothing in a year’s time.
Mourinho, who has signed a three-year deal at the Bernabeu, was criticised for comments he made after Vinicius accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during a Champions League tie in February.
Mourinho, Benfica manager at the time, said “something happens, always” in matches where Vinicius plays. Prestianni was banned for six matches after he admitted to using homophobic language towards Vinicius.
Tzolis followed Piero Hincapie – who turned his temporary deal with Arsenal into a full-time switch – and goalkeeper Illan Meslier, a free signing from Leeds, as the Gunners’ third signing.
Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes could also move to the Emirates with Arsenal keen on the Brazil international.
Speaking after Newcastle’s 1-1 pre-season draw at Gateshead on Saturday, manager Eddie Howe said: “We don’t want to lose our best players
“I’ve spoken to him (Guimaraes) as I would do. Bruno is just a fantastic person. We’ve had some really good conversations, both before the World Cup, during the World Cup and after the World Cup.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen with Bruno’s future. That’s for other people to, one, speculate about, but also conversations that I’m not part of.”
