Alan Pardew claims Vinicius Jr to Arsenal is already a 'done deal'

Former Premier League manager Alan Pardew has fueled the rumor mill by insisting that Vinicius Junior's switch from Real Madrid to Arsenal is all but sealed. Speaking on talkSPORT, the ex-Crystal Palace and Newcastle boss doubled down on the speculation surrounding the Brazilian winger, suggesting the Gunners have already secured their man. "What a signing that would be. I think this is a deal that will happen," Pardew said, according to Metro. The 26-year-old has emerged as a blockbuster target for Mikel Arteta's side, and sources close to the situation indicate Arsenal's hierarchy-including co-chairman Josh Kroenke-are prepared to go all in. The financial package, believed to be in the region of €160 million, is not seen as a hurdle, despite reports from Spain that Real Madrid would demand a club-record fee. Real Madrid are expected to reopen contract talks this week in an attempt to convince Vinicius to stay, but Pardew is convinced the forward will end up in north London. "He's got a year left on his contract. They've been trying to get him to sign a new deal for a long time," he noted. "When you think about the other side of the coin, the new champions of the Premier League... you're in London. You're playing for the champions Arsenal. They'll put you in a house in Regent's Park, you can fly in and fly out your family at will. It's a tempting proposition." Pardew also pointed to Arsenal's need for a game-changer on the left flank, arguing that Vinicius would be the perfect fit. "The weak link of Arsenal's team is wide left. Everything else is there-the stability, the goalkeeper, the midfield. All they need is that one player who can jink past two defenders and curl it in the top corner at 0-0 in the 87th minute. That's your man." He concluded: "That's a done deal in my book. I think it's going to happen, more so than Bruno Guimaraes. It's their number one target and probably has been for a while."