Arsenal’s pursuit of Vinicius Junior has been the biggest talking point of the summer window. But is it real, or is the club being used as a pawn in a contract negotiation? Former Gunners midfielder Paul Merson thinks he knows the answer — and it’s not what Arsenal fans want to hear.
Writing in his Sky Sports column, Merson didn’t hold back. He accused the Brazilian of leveraging Arsenal’s interest to squeeze a better deal out of Real Madrid. It’s a theory that’s gaining traction, especially after Sky Sports reported on July 28 that Vinicius will be staying at the Bernabeu.
So where does that leave the Premier League champions?
How Did We Get Here?
It started on July 25 when The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed that Arsenal were exploring a deal for Vinicius. The Brazilian is in the final year of his contract at Real Madrid. Talks over an extension had stalled for months. Arsenal saw a window.
Internally, the move was approved at every level of the club. The Athletic’s James McNicholas reported that Arsenal believe they’re “well-positioned to capitalise” if Vinicius can’t agree fresh terms. The Telegraph then added that Arsenal were ready to make him the highest-paid player in their history, offering around £400,000 per week — eclipsing Bukayo Saka’s current deal.
Real Madrid, though, aren’t budging. They reportedly value Vinicius at around €160 million. And with new manager Jose Mourinho making it clear he wants the 26-year-old at the center of his plans, the door appears to be closing fast.
Sky Sports delivered the decisive update:
“Vinicius Junior will be staying at Real Madrid beyond this summer. The Spanish club have no intention of selling him and are confident he will agree a new contract.”
That’s about as definitive as it gets.
Merson’s Warning and the Barcola Alternative
Merson’s take? Arsenal shouldn’t have been surprised.
“Vinicius Jr is just looking for a new contract at Real Madrid. He’s playing Arsenal,” he wrote.
But Merson also acknowledged something important. The fact that Arsenal could even be in the conversation for a player like Vinicius shows how far they’ve come under Mikel Arteta. This isn’t the Arsenal of five years ago. This is a club that won the Premier League last season and is now shopping at the very top of the market.
Still, Merson insists the left wing needs sorting — and fast.
“If Arsenal don’t get Vinicius, then they have to get Bradley Barcola,” Merson said. “They have to get a left winger in, especially now Leandro Trossard has left.”
Trossard’s departure to Besiktas for just £17 million earlier this month left a real gap in Arteta’s squad. Merson was blunt about it:
“He went for literally nothing. I can’t believe that half the Premier League weren’t after Trossard.”
What Are Arsenal’s Options Now?
The club hasn’t been sitting still. Christos Tzolis arrived from Club Brugge in a £34 million deal — a Belgian Pro League record. The 24-year-old Greek international scored 22 goals and provided 29 assists last season. ESPN confirmed the signing on July 23.
Tzolis is a solid pickup. But he’s not the marquee name that fills the Vinicius-shaped hole in the squad. And that’s Merson’s concern.
Bradley Barcola remains a possibility, though it won’t come cheap. PSG have slapped a £145 million price tag on the French international. Liverpool are also in the race and reportedly hold the inside track, with Barcola said to favor a move to Anfield.
Other names floating around include:
- Nico Williams of Athletic Club
- Antonio Nusa of RB Leipzig
- Marcus Rashford, whose future at Manchester United remains uncertain
Arsenal also missed out on Morgan Rogers, who chose Chelsea in a £117 million deal. That setback makes finding the right left-sided attacker even more urgent.
Merson summed it up best: “If Arsenal don’t get Vinicius or Barcola, then it’s a major worry.”
He’s not wrong. Arsenal won the league last season. They can’t afford to go into the new campaign with a weaker squad than the one that lifted the trophy. Tzolis is a welcome addition, but Arteta needs at least one more elite signing on the left flank before the window shuts. Whether that’s Barcola or someone else entirely, the clock is ticking.