According to Spanish outlet Directvsports, Arsenal are preparing a formal €150m offer for Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior during the January transfer window.
The club’s technical team has drawn up a plan to raise €160m through player sales, allowing Arsenal to meet the proposed fee, cover Vinicius Junior’s wages and comply with Financial Fair Play rules.
The Brazil international has reportedly lost his place in Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid starting XI following the emergence of Ivorian forward Yan Diomande. That change has alerted Arsenal, with manager Mikel Arteta viewing Real Madrid’s number seven as the individual talent required to help defend the Premier League title and pursue the club’s 1st Champions League crown.
Arsenal’s proposed sales list contains 3 senior players. Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino, 30, is valued at €30m and is being closely monitored by Atletico Madrid.
Defensive midfielder Martin Zubimendi, 27, has attracted interest from Real Madrid, Bayern, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid. Arsenal hope his departure could bring in €70m.
The third player is Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, 28, who has fallen behind Havertz in the club’s attacking hierarchy. He is valued at €60m.
The Arsenal hierarchy plans to intensify negotiations during the first few weeks of December in an attempt to complete all 3 sales. Should the club secure the required money before the end of the year, it would submit a formal €150m proposal to Real Madrid when the 2027 transfer window opens.
Vinicius Junior’s difficult season
Vinicius Junior has endured a difficult 2026-27 campaign, with his form declining and his influence in attack falling noticeably.
He has made 8 La Liga appearances, scoring once and registering 3 assists, while enduring a lengthy spell without a goal. The forward was sent off against Villarreal in October 2026 and subsequently missed El Clasico through suspension.
His Champions League statistics have been similarly modest. Vinicius Junior has played 4 matches in the competition without scoring.
Despite his struggles, Real Madrid remain committed to the Brazilian over the long term. The club announced on August 6, 2026, that he had signed a contract extension running until June 30, 2032.
His role and his compatibility with Real Madrid’s other attacking players have become subjects of debate both on the pitch and among supporters. Those discussions intensified after the team performed well collectively during his absence.
Vinicius Junior has also been substituted repeatedly, while sections of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd have booed him over his lack of attacking sharpness and tendency to lose possession. However, he has publicly stated that he believes he can recover his form, drawing confidence from having overcome a difficult beginning at Real Madrid.
