Arsenal still believe in Vinícius Júnior: Ornstein reveals the scale of the club's ambition

Arsenal are refusing to let the Vinícius Júnior chase go quiet. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the London club remains optimistic about the possibility of signing the Real Madrid winger and has already done detailed work on the financial side of a potential deal. Speaking on a podcast, Ornstein said Arsenal are prepared to take unprecedented steps to make the transfer happen. Inside the club there is a belief that landing the Brazilian would be a landmark move - not just for Arsenal, but for the Premier League and European football as a whole. There is also confidence that if Vinícius decides to walk away from Real Madrid, a move to Arsenal would be his preferred option. The uncertainty around his future comes down to contract talks with the Spanish club, which are dragging on. Real have offered wages of around €22 million a year, while the player's side is aiming for €28-30 million. If no agreement is reached, Arsenal are considered the leading candidate to sign him. Another route for Vinícius would be to see out his current deal until 2027 and leave on a free transfer. Earlier reports suggested Real Madrid would demand €150 million for the Brazilian if the contract situation falls apart.