Vinicius Junior set to snub Arsenal and sign new Real Madrid deal despite Mourinho arrival

Arsenal’s audacious interest in Vinicius Junior appears to be heading nowhere, with the Real Madrid forward reportedly leaning towards signing a new contract at the Bernabeu rather than exploring a switch to north London.

The Brazilian winger emerged as an Arsenal target after his current deal, which runs down at the end of next season, stalled in renewal talks. But reports suggest Vinicius is keen to stay put, with negotiations over fresh terms expected to resume shortly and the gap between his demands and Madrid’s offer said to be narrow.

Arsenal are understood to have received internal approval to pursue a move, having identified Vinicius as one of several attacking options being weighed up this summer. No formal approach had been made as talks stalled, and any deal would always have carried significant complications given his reported weekly wage, thought to be in the region of £400,000.

Mourinho’s influence

Complicating any potential departure further is the position of Jose Mourinho, who has taken charge at the Bernabeu and is said to have made clear to the club’s hierarchy that he does not want to lose any senior first-team players this summer. That stance would put him at odds with any Arsenal approach, regardless of Vinicius’s own contractual uncertainty.

For Arsenal, missing out on a marquee left-sided forward would be a blow, though accommodating his wage demands alongside other priorities at the Emirates was always going to be a stretch. Mikel Arteta and Declan Rice are among those in line for improved terms at the club, adding further complexity to any move for a player of Vinicius’s stature and salary.

Diomande deal edges closer

Vinicius’s apparent preference to stay comes despite Real Madrid closing in on a separate deal for RB Leipzig’s Yan Diomande, a left-sided forward whose arrival is expected to cost in excess of £100million. Reports from Germany suggest personal terms have already been verbally agreed, with Madrid understood to have moved ahead of other suitors, including Paris Saint-Germain, who had previously been linked with the Ivorian.

Should both deals materialise as expected, Vinicius and Diomande would find themselves competing directly for minutes on the left flank at the Bernabeu next season, adding an intriguing subplot to Madrid’s attacking reshuffle under their new head coach.

For Arsenal, attention is likely to turn elsewhere in the market as they continue searching for reinforcements in the final attacking third, with the club still expected to be active before the transfer window closes.

Read more: Chelsea hijack Arsenal’s £117m Morgan Rogers deal as Gunners turn to Tzolis

Sources

• The Mirror
• Evening Standard

This is an independent report written from the facts across the sources named above.