The British newspaper Daily Mail revealed that Arsenal Club may have a real opportunity to sign the Brazilian star Vinicius Junior during the summer transfer window, amid stalled contract renewal negotiations with Real Madrid and ongoing uncertainty about his future.
According to the newspaper, negotiations between Real Madrid and Vinicius have not seen any progress over the past 12 months, leaving the player in the final year of his contract, while the Spanish club does not wish to risk losing him for free in the summer of 2027.
It explained that the main reason behind the stalled negotiations is Vinicius's demand for a salary close to that of Kylian Mbappe, the highest-paid player at Real Madrid, in addition to his request for a loyalty bonus of 15 million euros, which makes renewing his contract an extremely costly deal.
Daily Mail added that Real Madrid's management sees selling the player this summer as an option worth considering if the club receives a massive offer, especially with ongoing difficulties in finding technical balance between Vinicius and Mbappe, as the duo prefers to occupy the same spaces in the attacking line, which has caused tactical issues that neither Carlo Ancelotti nor Xabi Alonso have been able to resolve.
The newspaper pointed out that the relationship between Vinicius and Mbappe was not ideal off the pitch either, confirming that the tension between the two stars has further complicated matters inside Real Madrid's dressing room during the past season.
It confirmed that Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, who took charge of Real Madrid, will not stand in the way of Vinicius's departure if the management decides to sell him, despite the dispute that arose between them last season following the incident of racist abuse during the match against Benfica, as that crisis is not seen as preventing the establishment of a professional working relationship between the two parties.
The newspaper believes that Vinicius's departure could give Mourinho greater flexibility in building a more balanced team, especially with Real Madrid nearing the signing of young Ivorian Yan Diomande, who excels in playing on the right wing, which could help the Portuguese coach reshape the attacking line.
Daily Mail concluded its report by emphasizing that the final decision remains in the hands of Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, but Arsenal may find the door open if it submits a massive financial offer, in a deal that would grant the London club one of the world's best players and boost its chances of competing for titles.