Vinicius Jr is set to resume contract talks with Real Madrid this week as Premier League champions Arsenal maintain a key interest in the Brazilian forward.
The Gunners have identified the 26-year-old as their priority left-wing target should his contract situation remain unresolved.
However, significant uncertainty remains over whether the attacker will be available this summer.
Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr’s representatives have been in discussions over a new contract for the past 18 months. His current deal runs until 2027.
Vinicius returned to the club for his first pre-season training session and medical assessment on Monday following his World Cup campaign with Brazil. He is training under Jose Mourinho for the first time this week, with sources close to the Portuguese manager saying he is keen for the winger to commit his future to Real Madrid.
Vinicius also wants to remain at the Bernabeu, but with his contract entering its final year, Real risk losing him on a free transfer if no agreement is reached. This has increased the urgency for the club to resolve his future before the end of the transfer window, with talks expected to resume in earnest in the coming days.
There was a similar situation in 2023 when Vinicius signed a new deal extending his stay until 2027 as his previous contract entered its final year.
Renewal talks over the past 18 months slowed due to disagreements over wages and status within the club. The Brazilian is believed to want recognition as Los Blancos’ top star financially, especially after carrying the team for years before the arrival of Kylian Mbappe.
Real Madrid, however, are traditionally strict about maintaining their salary structure under president Florentino Perez, with Mbappe currently the club’s highest earner.
Despite the tension, Vinicius has described Real Madrid as “the club of my dreams” and said he hopes to remain there “for many years”.
The club remains hopeful of concluding talks this week. Should a new contract fail to materialise, Arsenal are ready to step in.
Mikel Arteta has made clear that this transfer window presents an opportunity to take Arsenal to another level, and the manager is said to be strongly interested in signing Vinicius.
A move for the Brazilian would signal Arsenal’s ambition to build on their Premier League title win last season by adding one of the world’s best players in the peak years of his career.
Those close to the winger have played down the immediacy of any potential transfer. Arsenal are also aware that even with Vinicius in the final year of his contract, there is no guarantee they will secure his signature, with the power currently lying with the player.
