Arsenal are shifting their focus to other transfer targets as Real Madrid close in on a new deal for Vinicius Jr.
Mikel Arteta was keen to bring the Brazilian winger to the Emirates Stadium but it is increasingly likely that he will remain in Spain. The Gunners are close to completing a transfer of their own with a £75million bid accepted for Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes. The midfielder has reportedly completed his medical and will sign a four-year deal in north London. Christos Tzolis, Illan Meslier and Piero Hincapie have already joined Arsenal for a combined £68.5m.
Riccardo Calafiori has insisted his team must continue to add high-quality stars to their ranks as he targets more silverware. The defender told Sky Sports:
“Of course we are on that level now, we are on top. We want to win the league again and we want to be even better than last season, if we can, so we need those kind of players, I think.”
Here, Mirror Football has the latest coming out of the red side of north London.
Reports claim that Real are close to agreeing an extension for Vini Jr, putting any plans of Arteta securing the winger to bed. Fabrizio Romano states that the verbal agreement is nearly finalised, with the 26-year-old giving
“the green light”to move forward with a new long-term deal.
Real manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly pushed for Vini to stay, stating that he was ready to welcome the winger back into the fold.
Speaking ahead of the Brazilian's return to pre-season training, Mourinho said:
“I’m concerned about not having everyone, and I would like to have three weeks of work with the others. It’s not possible.
“On Monday, Vini Jr, Brahim, and Bernardo will arrive. Little by little, until the boys who played in the World Cup semifinals and final arrive, with the final being only Cucurella.”
Liverpool are threatening to rival Arsenal for Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa thanks to their major defensive crisis. Joe Gomez was injured during pre-season with Jeremy Jacquet yet to feature and Virgil van Dijk still on a break after the World Cup.
The Gunners registered an interest in Konsa following William Saliba's back injury at the World Cup, but Villa's £60m price tag is thought to be above what they are willing to pay. The 28-year-old is a Premier League veteran and with two years left on his deal, he could be a great addition to either Liverpool or Arsenal.
Discussing the Reds' depth issues in defence, Andoni Iraola said:
“With the centre-back, with the right-back situation, in terms of defensive depth, we are, I think, very thin right now so I think it's a solution that we are trying to find, yes.”
Guimaraes' imminent arrival at Arsenal could spell trouble for Declan Rice. The England international could be forced into an unnatural position in the squad. Rice has been Arsenal's ever-reliable No. 8, making 158 appearances as the club's main playmaker. However, Guimaraes also operates in the creative slot and could shift the 27-year-old to a deeper No. 6 area.
While this may create an issue for the duo, Jay Bothroyd believes they are
“up there”with the best midfield pairing in the Premier League.
He said:
“I do believe with Rice and Guimaraes, of all of those [Rodri and Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, Matheus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali], I would probably say, as athletes as well as football players, they would be the best partnership in terms of fitness, physicality, both boxes.
“I think tactically, Rodri and Elliot Anderson might be better, but I think definitely for the way Arsenal play, I wouldn't swap that pairing for any of the others.”
Arsenal ready Vinicius Jr move as Arteta delivers transfer message and Vinicius Jr moves closer to possible Arsenal switch after Real Madrid call previously tracked Arsenal's interest in the Brazil star, while Spanish media backing an Arsenal move for Vinicius Junior also kept the story alive as Real Madrid's stance evolved.
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