Real Madrid are set to resume contract talks with Vinicius Junior this week amid interest from Arsenal, according to the BBC.
The Gunners have reportedly stepped up their interest in the Brazilian winger, with Mikel Arteta personally driving efforts to land the 26-year-old this summer.
Vinicius’ future at Real has been uncertain for some time, with contract talks dragging out over the last 18 months with no resolution.
His current deal expires in 2027, so it is the last summer the LaLiga giants can demand a fee for one of their star plauers.
Is Vinicius leaving Real Madrid?
Vinicius returned to Real Madrid for pre-season training on Monday following an extended break after the World Cup.
He is working with new manager Jose Mourinho for the firs time, with the Portuguese boss reportedly keen for the Brazil star to remain in the Spanish capital.
Vinicius is said to be keen to sign a new deal at Real, but the fact that this is the last summer to demand a fee means a move is likely if a deal can’t be struck in the coming days.
Despite reports of feeling undervalued by the club, the two-time Champions League winner has described Real as “the club of my dreams” and said he hopes to remain there “for many years”.
Can Arsenal pull off a move for Vinicius Jr?
With a new addition on the left a priority, Arsenal are said to be ramping up their efforts to land Vinicius, with the Gunners boss making it clear to the player’s camp that he is central to their hopes of success in the future.
That may well convince the forward to make the move, with reported doubts over Vinicius’ future role in Real’s star-studded team.
When asked about Vinicius after a 4-1 pre-season win over Girona, Arteta said they were looking to be ambitious this summer.
“We are very active, trying to improve and evolve the team,” the Spaniard said. “That’s clear. We expect to have movements in the next few weeks because we want to get better, like anybody else.
“You can just see the transfer market and our opponents and what they are doing. We are very ambitious with what we want to do.
“The margins are very small and if we want to get better, the level is going to increase. We need to increase the competition internally.
“We need to make sure that we identify the things we don’t have in the team to have bigger margins. That’s the way we have to think.
“We have even more responsibility and ambition than before. We know what is ahead; we know the qualities and capacity we have to compete with any team, but we need to prove that we belong at this level [of champions] now.”
