IT'S ALL GETTING REAL! - Vinicius Jr moves step closer to blockbuster Arsenal transfer after Real Madrid make contract decision

Arsenal could be moving closer to signing Vinicius Jr this summer, with momentum shifting in the club's favour. The Real Madrid forward has emerged as a key transfer target for the Premier League champions.

Real Madrid have been locked in talks with the Brazilian over a contract renewal, but they seem to have stalled, with the Spanish giants appearing not to be willing to shift on their current offer. On Friday, Spanish outlet Marca reported that the offer made to the forward would be the 'final' one from Real Madrid.

That's now something that Arsenal could take advantage of as they look to complete a blockbuster signing. As it stands, Vinicius has less than a year remaining on his current contract with Real Madrid.

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While the player's preference has been to stay at the Bernabeu, Real Madrid's continued reluctance to negotiate beyond their current offer has seen the mood begin to shift considerably. This is presenting a golden opportunity for Arsenal, who at every level of the club are united in their determination to push through a deal should the Brazilian's future at Real Madrid remain unresolved this summer.

As reported by football. london, no definitive decision has been reached as yet, with the player unwilling to rush into any final decision. But the positions of both Real Madrid and Arsenal are unmistakably clear.

And that is precisely the situation currently unfolding in the Spanish capital. Mikel Arteta offered an ambitious outlook on Arsenal's summer intentions, much of which would be satisfied by landing Vinicius Junior.

"A lot is happening," he said in his first interview of the summer. "We all know about the context of this transfer window.

"From ownership to the board, the sporting director and myself, we know that we want to take this club to a different level. That is going to require a better squad, better individuals.

"We have identified where we have opportunities to grow and to improve and to evolve our game and what is going to be needed to achieve that. Hopefully, very soon we can start to put things in a very concrete way."

The club are also edging closer to securing Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, who is also a Brazilian international alongside Vini Jr.

A fee in the region of £80million is hoped to be reached, with intermediaries playing a pivotal role in behind-the-scenes negotiations and add-ons expected to prove crucial in sealing the final deal.

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