Who could Arsenal sign after missing out on Vinicius Jr?

Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Who could Arsenal sign next? Tottenham defender Cristian Romero, Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez and Juventus' Turkey winger Kenan Yildiz have all been linked with the Gunners

Arsenal reporterPublished4 hours agoOne big signing missed and one through the doors - it's been a mixed transfer window for Arsenal.

The Gunners were unsuccessful in what turned out to be a very public pursuit of Real Madrid winger Vinicius Jr but did manage to bring in fellow Brazilian and Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes for £75m.

The signing of Guimaraes is another of the "win now" signings like Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres last summer as he immediately raises the level and competition of the Arsenal squad.

Manager Mikel Arteta was asked if Arsenal supporters can expect more faces through the door before the deadline and the Spanish manager said: "Well, that's what we're trying to do. If we have the right player in the market to make us much better."

The Gunners are also going to be without two key defenders through injury in Jurrien Timber and William Saliba going into the start of this season, so it could be a busy few weeks in north London as they get set to try to defend their title.

Why Arsenal are signing Newcastle captain Guimaraes

Published5 days agoVinicius Jr and Real Madrid agree new six-year deal

Published4 days agoAre there any other elite wingers available?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Kenan Yildiz has been monitored by Arsenal as a potential signing

For Arsenal it is hard to find any winger who would bring the excitement levels as well as the elite numbers that Vinicius Jr can.

So what other options do the club and sporting director Andrea Berta have?

Arsenal have come into this window looking at bringing in one or two forwards and Arteta has made it clearthat any player that comes in this season has to take the club to the next level.

Arsenal signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge to replace the outgoing Leandro Trossard, with the 24-year-old producing a remarkable 22 goals and 29 assists in all competitions last season for the Belgian club.

Replicating those numbers is unlikely but the Greek international has looked one of the brightest players during pre-season.

Arsenal have explored a move for Paris St-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, but Liverpool are also interested and the French side are demanding a fee of more than £100m for the forward.

Morgan Rogers, before he completed his move to Chelsea from Aston Villa for £117m, was a target but Arsenal were not willing to go above £80m for the England international.

Finding value in the market is hard and Berta is always looking to ensure that a deal represents value for the club.

Kenan Yildiz is one player from Europe who is on Arsenal's list in a hunt for a left winger.

The 21-year-old had a seriously impressive 2025-26 season for Juventus, scoring 11 goals and registering 10 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions.

The Turkey international can play across the frontline too which adds another dynamic, which may make him appealing to Arteta.

Like all good wingers he is unpredictable and can go on either the inside or outside, which means it is hard for defenders to know if he is going to cross the ball or shoot.

And stats from Opta show that, of all players in Europe's top five leagues last season, only Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes (98) and Werder Bremen's Romano Schmid (77) created more open-play chances than Yildiz, while it was only Vinicius (43) who created more chances after carrying the ball than Yildiz too (37).

However, Yildiz has just signed a new four-year deal and sources indicate that Juventus are unwilling to sell him.

Atletico Bilbao winger Nico Williams is another who has been looked at before by Arsenal and would add some spark to an attack which can be criticised as being too predictable at times.

The Spain winger has a contract until 2035 with the Basque club but there are reports which suggest there is a release clause in his contract.

Williams completed 43.8% of his 153 dribbles last season, scored six goals and registered three assists in a campaign that was disrupted by injury.

According to Opta, Williams averaged 8.2 dribbles per 90 minutes last season in La Liga with only Lamine Yamal, Kevin and Jeremy Doku averaging more in Europe's top five leagues.

Availability is a big thing for Arteta and with a potentially high price tag and after a season of broken game time, this may not be the player for the Gunners at this point.

Arsenal also have the option of continuing with Tzolis on the left while they also have Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke who can fill that role too, with Eze playing from the left in some of Arsenal's biggest games at the business end of last season.

Guimaraes can ignite something different in us - Arteta

Published1 day agoWill a defender be signed too?Arsenal are going to start the season with half of their first-choice back four out injured which means that any defender they sign is going to be required to play straight away.

That is why the Gunners have been interested in a move for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa who, as well as being a reliable centre-back, can play at right-back too.

Konsa has become a starting option for England and, alongside his importance to Villa, that will be why he is valued at around £60m.

However, Konsa is not the only defender that Arsenal have on their shortlist of targets.

The Gunners are interested in a move for Cristian Romero who is the captain of their rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

If any move does materialise for Romero, it would be a sensational development and be another deal, following the one for Eze last season, which would present a chance for bragging rights for Arsenal fans.

Atletico Madrid are reported to be chasing Romero though and with Spurs unlikely to want to strengthen their rivals, this deal seems unlikely to come to fruition.

One of the big moves of last season's summer transfer window was when Arsenal signed Gyokeres.

The Sweden striker was chosen to get the Gunners over the line in their hunt for a piece of silverware.

Gyokeres achieved that and scored 21 goals in all competitions but it was not always smooth sailing for the 28-year-old.

There are questions over his technical ability and about how suited he is to this Arsenal attack.

Arsenal have held a strong interest in Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez for sometime and the Argentinian international wants to leave the LaLiga club.

Alvarez, who was already played in the Premier League for Manchester City, would present a huge jump in quality and there would be no debate that he would make the Arsenal frontline better.

But, like many of the targets Arsenal are looking, at there is interest in Alvarez from elsewhere.

Barcelona are pursuing the forward which could scupper any plans that Arsenal have.

The Gunners are also trying to balance the books with Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Reiss Nelson all available for a move if there is an offer that matches the club's value.

Denmark midfielder Christian Norgaard has already departed for Everton while there is not yet a clear path for academy graduate Ethan Nwaneri.

Arsenal have added Guimaraes and Tzolis as well as former Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier as back-up as they look to build on their success of last season.

But whatever happens, it is going to be a busy period in north London as they look to get their business finalised before the deadline.

Latest Arsenal news, analysis and fan views

Ask about Arsenal - what do you want to know?

ShortsPreviousNext0:53Jeff Bezos and Liverpool explained. 00:00:53, play videoJeff Bezos and Liverpool explained1:24Has the pressure intensified on Infantino? 00:01:24, play videoHas the pressure intensified on Infantino?0:56Is there anything different about these Newcastle badges? 00:00:56, play videoIs there anything different about these Newcastle badges?0:21'A lot of work to be done' - Van Dijk on Liverpool's transition. 00:00:21, play video'A lot of work to be done' - Van Dijk on Liverpool's transition0:29Messi honoured by team-mate after goal. 00:00:29, play videoMessi honoured by team-mate after goalTop storiesGB's Hunt comes of age with European 100m gold

Why has Araujo joined Liverpool and where did it go wrong at Barcelona?

The transgender controversy surrounding the WNBA

First look: Vigil returns with higher stakes than ever

Lydia West stars in a dark, chaotic murder mystery

A 1986 murder, a miscarriage of justice and a new hunt for a killer

Mourinho says he agreed to replace Ferguson at Man Utd

The team behind Hodgkinson's golden rise and the hunt for a world record

What are your favourite new kits for the coming season?

Money problems and broken dreams - why is it so hard to run a cycling team?

Mudryk's emotional return and 'leader' Palmer - inside Chelsea's pre-season

Brazilian top-flight club wear name of English fan with MND on shirts

Unmasking London City's Spanish superstar

Life as a Wag in the transfer window

Tielemans cameo against PSG hints at Man Utd future

'What a throw!' - Southern Brave's two stunning run outs. Video'What a throw!' - Southern Brave's two stunning run outs

Inside Newcastle 2.0 - how the project is changing

Politicians, private jets and power - the life of a Fifa president

A secret invite and other 'pinch-me' moments before Leicester woke up

39 moves across five countries - football's ultimate journeyman

Why Real are happy to pay £120m for raw genius of Diomande

Weekly sports quiz: Beckham at the Commonwealth Games?

Why Liverpool are ready to make Barcola third £100m signing

Why £1m-a-season deal will be hard for Pollock and Hearn to find

A youngster to watch at each Premier League club this season