Who could Arsenal sign after missing out on Vinicius Jr?
A look at Arsenal's transfer window strategy, alternative winger targets, and defensive reinforcements following missed opportunities.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Arsenal missed out on Vinicius Jr but secured Bruno Guimaraes for £75m from Newcastle.
- The club has monitored alternative wingers including Kenan Yildiz, Nico Williams, and Bradley Barcola.
- Defensive injuries have prompted interest in Ezri Konsa and Cristian Romero to bolster the backline.
Arsenal's transfer window has proven to be a mixed bag following a very public and ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr, though the club successfully brought in fellow Brazilian and Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes for a fee of £75m.
The arrival of Guimaraes follows the pattern of "win now" signings like Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres from the previous summer, immediately strengthening the squad's competitive level. However, with key defenders Jurrien Timber and William Saliba sidelined due to injury at the start of the campaign, north London is bracing for a busy period as the team prepares to defend their title.
In their search for a winger to replace the excitement and elite numbers offered by Vinicius Jr, manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta have evaluated several options. Arsenal previously signed 24-year-old Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge to replace Leandro Trossard, after the Greek international recorded 22 goals and 29 assists across all competitions last season.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The complexities of modern football transfer markets often force top-tier clubs to pivot quickly when high-profile pursuits fail. Balancing financial fair play regulations, player valuations, and tactical necessities requires sporting directors to weigh release clauses and long-term contract statuses carefully against immediate squad needs.
Other targets considered include Bradley Barcola of Paris St-Germain, though the French side has demanded a fee exceeding £100m while Liverpool also maintain interest. Morgan Rogers was also targeted prior to his £117m move to Chelsea from Aston Villa, as Arsenal were unwilling to exceed an £80m valuation for the England international.
Kenan Yildiz of Juventus is another name on the shortlist after an impressive 2025-26 campaign where the 21-year-old contributed 11 goals and 10 assists in 47 appearances. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams remains an option with a release clause in his contract, having completed 43.8% of his 153 dribbles last season despite an injury-disrupted year.
"Guimaraes can ignite something different in us"
Mikel Arteta
Defensive concerns have also emerged with half of the first-choice back four injured at the start of the season. Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa, valued at approximately £60m due to his ability to play both centre-back and right-back, has been targeted. Additionally, an ambitious inquiry into Tottenham Hotspur captain Cristian Romero has been discussed, though interest from Atletico Madrid and rival club dynamics make a deal difficult.
Source: BBC Sport
Found something wrong in this article? Report an issue with this article
Comments
Leave a Comment