Arsenal caught up in transfer fight with Man Utd over £73m Vini Jr alternative
Arsenal are reportedly shifting their attention to a new target after Vinicius Junior signed a fresh six-year deal with Real Madrid – and now they’re set to face competition from Manchester United.
Even though Arsenal was strongly linked with Vini Jr, the 26-year-old will stay at Real Madrid next season. He signed a big contract with Los Blancos, which means Mikel Arteta’s hopes of bringing him in are now off the table.
Still, Arteta and Andrea Berta haven’t wasted any time. The Premier League club has already sent scouts to Perth, Australia, to watch a highly rated striker during pre-season.
According to The Sun, Arsenal are ready to go head-to-head with Man United for Inter Milan’s striker, Pio Esposito. The 21-year-old Italian forward has impressed scouts from both clubs, and Arsenal have been following him closely for months. They want to add more firepower to their attack alongside Viktor Gyokeres and Kai Havertz.
Esposito fits what Arsenal and Arteta are after. He’s tall at six feet three and is known for working hard on the pitch. On the other side, Man United are being cautious and won’t rush to make a move, especially since their plans depend on whether Joshua Zirkzee leaves.
Inter consider Esposito a key player, but The Sun says they might sell him for around £73 million. The striker probably won’t push for a transfer, but he’s interested in playing in the Premier League one day.
Even with the interest from England, Esposito, who scored 11 goals in 50 games last season, is expected to renew his contract with Inter this summer, which could raise his price.
In an interview with Sky Italia on August 3, Esposito said he’s happy at Inter.
“Last year we did better than expected,” he said. “I came from Serie B, and I’m pleased with how my first season went.
“I’m calm about the renewal, I’m happy here, and my agent will discuss everything with the club without any problems.
“My goal is to never settle, to keep improving both my stats and my game as a player.”