Arsenal will have to fork out a record Premier League transfer fee if they are to sign Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, according to reports.
The Gunners have identified Vinicius as their number-one priority to strengthen on the left wing, with Mikel Arteta said to be ‘enamoured’ with the thought of signing the Brazilian.
Arsenal are yet to hold direct talks with Madrid, but appear well-placed to make a move for the 26-year-old should he fail to agree a contract extension with Real.
Vinicius’ current deal expires next year, with the Spanish giants said to be willing to cash in this summer if a new contract is not signed.
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ESPN reports that the player’s representatives and Madrid are due to hold crunch talks this week, but there remains a clear gap over a salary for any new contract.
The Spanish giants are said to be willing to offer Vinicius as much as €22million a year (£18.8m), but the Brazilian winger is still demanding a mammoth annual figure of around €30million (£25.7m).
If no agreement can be met, Vinicius could leave on a free transfer next summer, although Arsenal may look to pounce this summer to secure a blockbuster signing.
The north London club have already indicated that they would be willing to blow apart their wage structure and make Vinicius the highest-paid player in Premier League history to try and lure the 26-year-old to the Emirates.
But Arsenal may also have to fork out a record fee to sign Vinicius, with ESPN adding that Madrid would expect a fee of around €150million (£128.5m), despite the winger having only 12 months left on his contract.
That figure would eclipse the £125m that Liverpool paid Newcastle United last summer to sign Alexander Isak.
Despite the speculation, Vinicius has returned to pre-season training with Madrid following a break after the World Cup.
And the Brazilian revealed on Tuesday that he had already spoken to new boss Jose Mourinho about his role in the side ahead of the new season.
‘Very well, getting to know the new manager, the new players and working really hard in training,’ he told the club’s official website.
‘He wants me to be just as I’ve always been – happy, positive and playing my own style of football.’
On how the opening days of pre-season training had gone, Vinicius added: ‘I think the goal is to get us match fit so we have fewer injuries during the season and can rely on everyone throughout the campaign.
‘Two days in already. Yesterday was a double session, today just the one. That’s how it’s going.
‘Today we did some gym work, in the end they were short exercises to build up leg strength and I think it was a really good session.
‘We all finished completely dead on our feet, but now it’s time to rest up for tomorrow. That’s pre-season for you – we’ve got to be ready.’
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